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Aurora shooting victims' families harassed, Ore. man arrested, police say

Kevin Purfield AP Photo/Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

(CBS/AP) PORTLAND, Ore. - An Oregon man was due to be arraigned Thursday on charges he harassed families of the victims of the mass shooting in an Aurora, Colo., movie theater.

Pictures: The Colorado massacre suspect

Kevin Purfield of Portland is accused of emailing, calling and using social media to contact the victims' relatives.

Aurora police say Purfield told family members that the shootings didn't really happen, or that the caskets of their relatives were empty.

Aurora police spokesman Frank Fania says after that, Purfield launched into vile and obscene "flat-out attacks" on many of the relatives.

The July 20, 2012 theater shooting left 12 people dead and 70 injured.

CBS affiliate KOIN reports that Sgt. Pete Simpson, a Portland Police Bureau spokesperson, said none of the contacts by Purfield were threatening, but were unwanted.

Purfield also posted several videos on YouTube including one that mentions he talked to family members of the Aurora shooting victims about whether they ever received the bodies of their loved ones, according to KOIN.

Portland police say the 45-year-old Purfield was booked Wednesday on harassment and stalking counts, both misdemeanors. Bail was set at $10,000.

Complete coverage of James Holmes on Crimesider

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