PORTLAND, OR – A man from Washington state was arrested four times within a four week period for rioting in Portland, which in three of those instances this man was bailed out or released. Now the federal government has stepped in, and has charged the man following a fourth arrest.
Washington State Man Charged with Civil Disorder After Assaulting Portland Police Officer: Kristopher Michael Donnelly of Kelso has been charged with civil disorder after assaulting a local police officer and being arrested during East Portland riots. https://t.co/1X73yXiNUH
— FBI Portland (@FBIPortland) September 4, 2020
The Department of Justice recently charged 26-year-old Kristopher Michael Donnelly civil disorder, which according to federal law could see Donnelly in prison for five years.
Donnelly’s first documented arrest during the Portland riots occurred on August 5th, where authorities say that Donnelly was caught on film using a hammer to smash the windows of the Portland Police Bureau’s East Precinct.
The DOJ also noted that Donnelly was among those throwing objects at police and even assaulted an officer when police were trying to arrest him that evening.
[embedded content]Donnelly was booked into jail for charges of rioting, criminal mischief, second-degree disorderly conduct, interfering with a peace officer and resisting arrest. His bail was set at $5,000 at the time, which was paid, and he was subsequently released.
But it didn’t take long for Donnelly to be out allegedly rioting again, as he was arrested again on August 8th. The Portland Police had declared a riot on the evening of the 8th outside of the Penumbra Kelly Building, which authorities say Donnelly was part and parcel to said riot.
Kristopher Michael Donnelly Aug 8 arrest – MCDC
After getting charged with second-degree disorderly conduct, interfering with a peace officer and rioting – the judge ordered Donnelly released without bail.
Moving on to the evening of August 22nd and the early morning hours of the 23rd, there was yet another riot in Portland.
Police officers and even a medic were under attack from rioters, where baseball sized rocks and bottles were hurled and fires were set. Once again – Donnelly was arrested for rioting, interfering with a peace officer and resisting arrest.
Kristopher Michael Donnelly Aug 23 arrest – MCDC
And he bailed out again according to records.
Then on August 30th, there was an unlawful assembly declared when officers were met with the likes of rocks and even eggs thrown at them.
Like clockwork, Donnelly was said to have been there and was arrested. This instance saw him charged with second-degree disorderly conduct and interfering with a peace officer.
Kristopher Michael Donnelly Aug 30 arrest – MCDC
Although, this time there was no bail for Donnelly.
On September 2nd, Donnelly was handed over to federal authorities in order for him to make an appearance for the charges levied federally in relation to his alleged criminal acts from August 5th and August 8th mentioned in the federal complaint.
The federal case against Donnelly was said to have been investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
In other federal cases linked to the Portland riots, the DOJ also announced that a Seattle man has been charged by criminal complaint with civil disorder, after shooting a firefighter with a ball bearing during a protest in downtown Portland on July 13th.
At the antifa riot on 13 July, Portland Police arrested Jesse Herman Bates. He’s accused of using a slingshot to fire a ballbearing at a @PDXFire medic. He took off running & was armed w/a crowbar. Police arrested him & found many other weapons on him. https://t.co/ZiSjDfEiq0 pic.twitter.com/YebYQFGTgR
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 14, 2020
According to court documents, a firefighting crew was working to put out a fire burning in the middle of an intersection that was blocking traffic in downtown Portland. A crowd of close to 300 people were in the immediate area, with some who were assaulting law enforcement officers, committing acts of vandalism, and destroying property.
One of the firefighters was walking across the street to go brief his team when he was stuck in the chest with a round metal ball bearing. The suspect, since identified as Jesse Herman Bates, 38, of Seattle was armed with a “write rocket” style slingshot.
Jesse Herman Bates is charged with felony assault, felony assault of an officer, carrying a concealed weapon & more. He’s been released on pretrial. #antifa #PortlandRiots #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/rVbfvX2xiX
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 14, 2020
A Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office deputy saw Bates on camera, and identified him as the slingshot shooter. Bates was also identified by his clothing. According to police, when they spotted him near a white tent in Lownsdale Square, he was holding a crowbar.
When officers proceeded to confront him about the slingshot, and to inform him that he was under arrest, he ran with the crowbar in hand. Officers then shot less-than lethal munitions to stop Bates from running towards them with the crowbar.
“Jesse Herman Bates, 38, of Seattle, Washington, has been charged by criminal complaint with civil disorder after shooting a firefighter with a ball bearing during a protest in Portland on July 13, 2020…” https://t.co/yujlNwsfgf
— Rob (@2Aupdates) September 2, 2020
Bates was hit with the less-than lethal munitions on his backside, causing him to drop the crowbar. He was then taken into custody and then later released. Bates was found carrying a stash of other weapons at the time of his arrest.
Items found included a switchblade knife, flares, umbrellas, spray paint, pyrotechnics, half-inch glass slingshot ammunition, and two slingshots. He was booked at the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of felony assault, felony assault of a public safety officer, interfering with a police officer, carrying a concealed weapon, and disorderly conduct.
According to reports, he was quickly released without bail by the county. On August 25th, Seattle Police Department’s Robbery Unit received his outstanding warrant, and immediately issued a state-wide notice.
Seattle officers checked Bates’ last known address and learned that he was known to frequent Cal Anderson Park in the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. On September 1st, officers on bicycle patrol spotted Bates near the park and arrested him without incident. He was then transferred to the District of Oregon by the FBI.
Bates made his initial appearance in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. The judge ordered his release pending further court proceedings. If convicted, Bates faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
In another, unrelated incident, Michelle Peterson O’Connor, 31, of Portland is facing a federal charge of civil disorder after authorities said she threw a helmet at an officer. According to reports, O’Connor threw a helmet at an officer that was making an arrest during an unlawful assembly in the early morning hours of August 24th.
A #Portland woman and #Seattle man allegedly involved in the #PortlandRiots were charged by federal prosecutors with civil disorder.
The charges are the first of their kind brought by US Attorney Billy Williams. https://t.co/axogMEXxYN
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) September 3, 2020
The helmet struck the officer in the head. O’Connor was initially arrested for attempted assault in the second degree, interfering with a peace officer, and disorderly conduct in the second degree. Police said that they made 23 arrests over the course of the night of August 24th.
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