Scottsdale gallery owner won't be charged in racist rant against Native American dancers

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Authorities Scottsdale will not pursue criminal charges against a gallery owner whose racist rant last year was caught on video while Native American dancers were being filmed.

Ortega, the owner of Gilbert Ortega Native American Galleries, had been facing three misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct in connection with the confrontation in Old Town Scottsdale ahead of last year's Super Bowl game.The Scottsdale city attorney's office said Friday in a statement that it closed its investigation after reviewing evidence in the case, including cellphone and surveillance videos and police reports. The FBI also assisted in the investigation.

A group of dancers had been performing in front of the Native Art Market on Main Street as ESPN filmed the group and had them pose by a Super Bowl sign. That’s when Ortega started yelling at them, authorities said. According to the city attorney's office, a Navajo speaker in the office and the FBI both concluded that comments made by Ortega to the dancers in Navajo weren't threatening and therefore did not support additional charges being filed.

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