PORTLAND, OR– On Monday night, August 31st, far-left extremists attacked an occupied building in downtown Portland.
The violent protesters damaged surrounding businesses and threw harmful objects at officers, including rocks and paint balloons, prompting officials to declare another riot.
Far left extremists attack an occupied apartment building in Portland and set a fire inside. There are kids living inside. pic.twitter.com/OfASXps04p
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) September 1, 2020
The Daily Wire reported that the Portland Police Department said in a statement:
“A mass gathering devolved into a riot after individuals broke windows, burglarized a business, and lit a fire in an occupied apartment building.”
Press Release: Protesters Break Windows, Burglarize Business, Start Fire In Apartment Building; Riot Declared (Photo)
Link: https://t.co/rCWFH1bRVo pic.twitter.com/64ZYO329tQ— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) September 1, 2020
The statement went into more detail:
“Some in the crowd began lighting off what appeared to be illegal commercial-grade fireworks. A fire was lit in a garbage can in the street. Some windows were broken and walls were defaced with graffiti. In an attempt to de-escalate, officers stayed out of sight and monitored the situation from a distance.”
This was the arson fire that prompted a riot declaration tonight. It was critical to secure the area to allow firefighters to respond to this dangerous situation. https://t.co/k33vcLD4BY
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) September 1, 2020
The department added:
“However, the vandalism and burning continued. People were seen burglarizing a business, taking furniture out, and throwing it on the fires in the street.”
As the protest continued to get more violent, law enforcement officials declared an unlawful assembly.
Shortly after that the department reported:
“Officers observed someone throw burning material through a broken window into a ground-level business in a large, occupied apartment building. Out of concern that the fire could spread, causing an extreme life safety concern, the incident was declared a riot.”
Press Release: Rocks and Other Items Thrown at Officers, Unlawful Assembly Declared at Kelly Building (Photo)
Link: https://t.co/GE4eDjsY0J pic.twitter.com/RVI0Fj2pX2— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 31, 2020
Investigators are actively looking for the individual(s) who started the fire in the occupied building.
The department said in a statement:
“Over loudspeaker, participants in the gathering were told that the area was closed to all persons, including media and legal observers, to allow firefighters to respond and extinguish the fires. Few, if any, of the persons complied.”
Rioters set fire to local outdoor businesses in Portland. pic.twitter.com/TvV4xiAHDx
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) September 1, 2020
They added:
“Officers began to move the crowd. Immediately officers reported rocks and paint balloons being thrown at them. Arrests were made. As the crowd moved away, someone attempted to stack debris in the road to create barricades.”
Antifa in Portland smashing up the entrances of residential apartment buildings. pic.twitter.com/ftBlufOBGz
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) September 1, 2020
Law enforcement arrested 19 individuals. Their names and what they have been charged with are below:
Kyle Giacomozzi, 37, of Happy Valley was arrested for disorderly conduct in the second degree and interfering with a peace officer.
Alexandra Johnson, 28, of Portland was arrested for disorderly conduct in the second degree and interfering with a peace officer.
Cody Shearer, 28, of Beaverton was arrested for disorderly conduct in the second degree and interfering with a peace officer.
Victoria Varty, 30, of Portland was arrested for riot, disorderly conduct in the second degree, and interfering with a peace officer.
Rachel Myles, 34, of Portland was arrested for disorderly conduct in the second degree and interfering with a peace officer.
Christopher Babb, 45, unknown residence was arrested for attempted assault on public safety officer, riot, interfering with a peace officer, disorderly conduct in the second degree, and carrying a concealed weapon.
Scott Long, 48, of Portland was arrested for interfering with a peace officer.
Tina Grundmeyer, 53, of Portland was arrested for riot and interfering with a peace officer.
Isabel Burns, 24, of Portland was arrested for disorderly conduct in the second degree and interfering with a peace officer.
Deven White, 29, of Portland was arrested for disorderly conduct in the second degree and interfering with a peace officer.
Trapper Sutterfield, 24, of Portland was arrested for disorderly conduct in the second degree and interfering with a peace officer.
Garret Stanford, 29, of Portland was arrested for disorderly conduct in the second degree and interfering with a peace officer.
Isaac Rowe, 25, of Portland was arrested for disorderly conduct in the second degree, interfering with a peace officer, and resisting arrest.
Ellen Bennington, 20, of Vancouver, Washington was arrested for disorderly conduct in the second degree, interfering with a peace officer, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed weapon.
Arianna Campbell, 19, of Portland was arrested for riot, disorderly conduct in the second degree, and interfering with a police officer.
Damian Hess, 21, of Portland was arrested for mischief in the first degree.
Dustin Ferreria, 36, of Portland was cited in lieu of custody for interfering with a peace officer.
One juvenile, 17, of Portland was referred to juvenile court on charges of criminal mischief in the first degree, disorderly conduct in the second degree, interfering with a police officer, and escape in the third degree.
Here is another article from Law Enforcement Today about the violent protests in Portland:
PORTLAND, OR– According to authorities, during a protest that started Saturday night, federal law enforcement officers used tear gas and crown-control munitions on those who were protesting near Portland’s federal courthouse.
According to the Seattle Times, federal officers at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse asked for help from city police at about 2 a.m. Sunday after protesters resisted arrest and threw bottles at them.
The Portland Police Bureau said that announcements were made for protesters to leave the area and the crowd finally dispersed around 3:20 a.m.
Portland Police told those near the Justice Center and Federal Courthouse to refrain from lighting fires. Smoke enters the Justice Center and creates an unhealthy atmosphere for people inside including employees and persons in custody. Lighting fires may result in arrest.
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) July 13, 2020
According to the police, during the protest, fires were started in trash cans and dumpsters, but no buildings were threatened. One person was arrested on suspicion of unlawfully pointing a laser.
Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) reports that friends and family of a demonstrator say a 25-year-old man was struck in the head and injured by an impact munition fired by the authorities.
Video posted to social media shows the man apparently being struck in the head while holding a speaker loft.
Desiree LaBella, the mother of Donavan LaBella, said that her son suffered facial and skull fractures. He had surgery and came out early Sunday morning and was able to respond to the doctors. His mother said to OPB:
“He was awake enough to give me the OK to talk to me. He’s had some facial reconstruction surgery. They’re just watching him right now.”
In a statement, Governor Kate Brown called for federal officials to scale back their response to the protests, which have consistently taken place for the last six weeks following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Brown said in her statement:
“The events of last night at the federal courthouse were the tragic and avoidable result of President Donald Trump, for weeks, continuing to push for force and violence in response to protests.”
Portland Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty criticized the federal officers. In a statement she said:
“This reckless and aggressive behavior has not put someone in the hospital. This protester is still fighting for their life and I want to be clear, this should have never happened. If this continues a life will be taken and it won’t matter whether a federal officer or a Portland police officer did it, it won’t bring that person back.”
Portland’s Deputy Police Chief, Chris Davis said in a statement:
“Agitator corps of violent protesters are responsible for vandalism and chaos in the city.”
Chief Davis made a distinction between Black Lives Matter protesters, who he said were not violent and a smaller group pf people he repeatedly called “agitators.”
Below is an update on the incident from the Portland Police Bureau:
“On July 12, 2020 people began gathering in Chapman Square and Lownsdale Square near SW 3/SW Main at about 6 p.m. People socialized, ate food, banged drums, and listened to speeches.
At about 10 p.m. the group began blocking traffic on SW 3rd and on SW main. By 10:30 p.m. a bonfire was burning in what used to be water troughs at the base of the old elk statue in the middle of SW Main.”
“The crowd remained in both parks and in the streets for the rest of the evening. Throughout the evening people dragged plywood from nearby construction sites or boarded up buildings to keep the fire burning.
People fired Roman-Candle and bottle rocket fireworks toward the Justice Center.
People lit a large bonfire in the middle of the east crosswalk at SW Main/SW 3rd. At one point, people set wood on fire that members of the crowd had propped against the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse. A person fired objects from a wrist rocket toward the U.S. Courthouse.”
“At about 1:30 a.m., the crowd gathered around the large bonfire in the crosswalk and built it up by burning plywood, cardboard, paper, and other debris.
Portland police officers approached SW 3/SW Main at about 2:30 a.m. to make the scene safe so Portland fire & rescue would put out the bonfire.
Portland police made public address announcement for the crowd to leave the area. As Portland fire & rescue approached, someone fired a ball bearing from a wrist rocket at the firefighters.
Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Deputies assisted Portland Police making the scene safe. Once the fire was extinguished, police and deputies disengaged. “
“Some of the remaining crowd congregated in the intersection and began moving park benches from Lownsdale Square into the intersection.
Others moved more plywood and other debris into the intersection. Portland Police made public address announcements to stop lighting fires for the safety of those present.
Some in the crowd ignored the announcements and built a new fire which others put out. The crowd slowly dwindled over the next hour.”
Small Crowds and small fires around Chapman and Lownsdale https://t.co/U24UfJBOvI
— Portland Police News (@PPBPIO) July 13, 2020
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