PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The home of Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan was damaged by a group, resulting in an unlawful assembly being declared in North Portland, and an arson investigation is underway after a burning item was thrown or set near an entryway door of Portland City Hall Thursday night, according to authorities.
Two people were arrested and booked at the Multnomah County Detention Center amid Thursday evening’s events, while one person was criminally cited, according to a Unified Command release.
Ryan’s house was targeted by demonstrators for the fourth time this week, Multnomah County and Unified Command spokesperson Chris Liedle said in a video statement released just before 1 a.m., describing the group as “agitators” who threw burning flares and paint-filled balloons, causing damage to the property.
An unlawful assembly was declared and the group was ordered to leave the area, authorities said, adding that about 40 demonstrators then reconvened outside of the Portland police union’s office on North Lombard. Authorities said the group was warned to stay on the sidewalk and out of the street.
Ryan was among those on the City Council who voted against cutting $18 million from the Portland Police Bureau budget on Thursday afternoon.
“Last night’s criminal destruction and attack on Commissioner Ryan’s home are reprehensible,” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said in a release Friday, “Violence, criminal destruction and intimidation are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Those responsible must be found, investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I condemn anyone who uses violence to attempt to silence the voices of others.”
Portland Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty also condemned the violence.
“Last night a group of people vandalized Commissioner Ryan’s home following a tense city council hearing on the city’s budget,” said Hardesty. “I want to be clear: we can disagree and be upset over these issues, but I do not condone what took place at the Commissioner’s home last night and those who engaged in the acts need to be held responsible. Fighting for systemic change is messy and complicated, but what shouldn’t be complicated is recognizing when lines have been crossed, and that’s what happened last night.”
Officials said that as the events were unfolding in North Portland, dispatchers received a call about a fire at a City Hall entrance that had been boarded up. An on-site security guard was able to put out the fire, which investigators say they believe was started by a burning object either placed or thrown at a boarded-up entrance. The suspect remains at large, according to the Unified Command.
The Unified Command also made more than dozen traffic stops Thursday night amid their patrols in the North Portland and downtown areas, according to Liedle. One driver was arrested for allegedly eluding Oregon State Police troopers and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Information circulating on social media had called on people to meet at 8 p.m. Thursday at Arbor Lodge Park near N. Delaware Avenue and N. Bryant Street.
The Unified Command of the Oregon State Police, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and the Portland Police Bureau said the march was not permitted and asked participants to stay on sidewalks and obey traffic rules.
“The event is being promoted as not welcoming to live streamers, which is an indication that there may be some who intend to engage in criminal activity,” they tweeted. “We ask businesses and residents in the area to secure items that could be taken and used as barricades or material for burning.”
Those arrested Thursday night were 36-year-old Bryan Ortega-Schwartz, who was charged with attempt to elude in a vehicle and reckless driving, and 30-year-old Michael Kinney, who was charged with interfering with a peace officer, resisting arrest and failure to display a license. Daniel Supriyadi, a 27-year-old Lake Oswego resident, was criminally cited for disorderly conduct and interfering with a peace officer.
Thursday night’s events followed a riot in the city center on Wednesday evening, which resulted in businesses and a church being damaged. Thirteen arrests were made.
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Various groups held events throughout Portland on Wednesday, one of which blocked the Morrison Bridge before vandalizing small businesses and churches along West Burnside.
Law enforcement declared a riot and Oregon Governor Kate Brown activated the National Guard. By the end of the night, 13 people had been arrested on charges ranging from trespassing to attempted arson. Deputies said they took one man into custody who had a loaded rifle, a knife, fireworks and tactical gear.
“I find it beyond comprehension that anyone would continue to think that the destruction of our small businesses in downtown Portland is somehow acceptable or represents the exercise of free speech. These destructive acts of political violence, must stop now,” said Andrew Hoan, the president and CEO of the Portland Business Alliance. “I hope every elected official will react and denounce this reprehensible behavior, just as vehemently as when our beloved Oregon Historical Society was attacked.”
By Thursday afternoon, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said his office would be prosecuting two of the 13 cases referred by law enforcement. Luke Harrah is accused of breaking windows at the Pioneer Courthouse Square Starbucks, while Jarrod DeFarrari is charged with breaking the windows of other local businesses using a hammer. Neither man is from Portland.