PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — For the 4th time in 5 nights, a riot was declared in downtown Portland after protesters threw bricks, mortars, M-80s, fireworks, lit fires, smashed windows, and clashed with police and federal officers who used tear gas and other crowd-control tactics to disperse the group by 4:30 a.m. Sunday.
A total of 13 people were arrested. They are:
- Christopher Klarer, 35, Disorderly Conduct II, Reckless Endangerment
- Jacob Brumbaughsmith, 28, Interference with a Peace Officer, Harassment
- Randal Marcus Mccorkle , 31, Reckless Endangerment, Disorderly Conduct II
- Demetrius Cordova, 31, Unlawful Direct of Light from a Laser Pointer, Disorderly Conduct II
- Emily Ann Gansberg, 28, Riot, Resist Arrest, Disorderly Conduct II
- Krystyna M. Solodenko, 30, Disorderly Conduct II, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Attempted Assault of a Peace Officer
- Conner Oshea 30, Interfering with a Peace Officer
- Luke Schwedler, 28, Resist Arrest, Disorderly Conduct II
- Jennifer Gunther, 28, Riot, Disorderly Conduct II, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Resist Arrest,
- Robert Mcmahon, 30, Disorderly Conduct II, Reckless Endangerment,
- Lauren Gonsalves, 27, Disorderly Conduct II, Reckless Endangerment
- Erick Hoopnagle, 33, Riot, Disorderly Conduct II, Interfering with a Peace officer
- Joshua Michael Cocomise, 23, Riot, Disorderly Conduct II, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Escape III
Authorities said several officers were hurt “mostly due to mortars and fireworks thrown at them.”
Several hundred people gathered in Chapman Square, across the street from the Justice Center Saturday night. Fireworks were set off in the street, including aerial fireworks which are illegal in Oregon, and some protesters were seen aiming fireworks at the US District Courthouse near the Justice Center as well.
At 11:09 p.m. Portland police declared a riot in the area of the Federal Courthouse building and Justice Center. Crowd control munitions were used, including CS tear gas. Police reported that several arrests were made.
Activity in the downtown area continued into Sunday morning. Demonstrators reconvened outside the Justice Center shortly after 1 a.m.
Timeline of Events
2 a.m.
1 a.m.
Small fires in the downtown area continued into the early hours of Sunday morning: the Pioneer Family statue that stands across the street from the Justice Center, what appeared to be piles of trash near SW Main Street and SW 3rd Avenue, and a third blaze set in the middle of the street on SW 3rd Avenue. In one instance, people were seen carrying a picnic table to the growing fire in the middle of 3rd Ave.
12 a.m.
At midnight, police released an update that stated tear gas had been used on demonstrators downtown. Police reported that bricks and fireworks were thrown at police as officers broke up crowds of demonstrators. Several arrests were made related to the protest.
11 p.m.
Police declared a riot at 11:09 p.m. in downtown Portland.
Officers in riot gear moved in quickly.
Police closed the “area between SW Broadway and SW 1st Avenue, SW Columbia to SW Yamhill Street,” and told demonstrators to leave or tear gas and other crowd-control munitions would be used.
Minutes before a riot was declared, Portland police issued an 11 p.m. update via Twitter in which officials said federal officers at the had used crowd-control munitions on demonstrators around Federal Courthouse. At the time, protesters were seen running away from smoke and some claimed it was tear gas.
10 p.m.
Several hundred people were outside the Justice Center. Some people set off fireworks.
Shortly after 10 p.m., Portland police said they were aware of the aerial fireworks, as well as “a sound amplification system that is mimicking commands similar to those used by the PPB sound truck.” Police said any official commands that come from their sound truck will also be repeated on Twitter.
“Fireworks and explosive devices are a serious safety risk to demonstration participants and officers. Do not direct fireworks or other incendiary devices towards the Justice Center. The fireworks are impacting the adults in custody within the building. Cease these activities now,” said police on Twitter.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office issued a similar statement on Twitter, stating that commercial-grade fireworks are an “extreme fire risk.”