PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A driver was reportedly assaulted after crashing his truck in downtown Portland during the 80th consecutive night of demonstrations in the city.
Shortly before 10:30 p.m., a pickup truck was found on the sidewalk as officers surrounded the area near Southwest Taylor Street and Southwest Broadway. Police said protesters were chasing the truck before it crashed, and they assaulted the driver afterward. When officers arrived at the scene, they were reportedly greeted by a hostile crowd.
The driver suffered serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital away in an ambulance. Video circulating on social media show people kicking and hitting the man while he was on the ground.
Witnesses on the scene told KOIN 6 the driver of the truck was attempting to run protesters over. Police are investigating the incident further.
Despite the alleged assault, no arrests were made overnight.
Earlier in the night
The mother of Patrick Kimmons, a Black man shot and killed by Portland police in 2018, spoke to protesters Sunday evening outside the Justice Center in downtown Portland at the beginning of the 80th consecutive night of demonstrations in the city.
Letha Winston started her “A Change is Going to Come” speech around 7 p.m. During her talk, she said she wouldn’t stop fighting for justice for her son.
“I will continue my mission for justice to hold police accountable for murders … by any means necessary,” said Winston in front of the Justice Center.
Police shot Kimmons, 27, on Sept. 30, 2018 near Southwest 4th and Harvey Milk Street. The investigation into his death revealed that moments before officers fired at him, Kimmons shot two people during a fight. Police said he was armed and refused to listen to commands.
A grand jury ruled the officers’ actions were justified, but Kimmons’ mother Letha Winston has continued fighting for police to change their use-of-force protocol, arguing it was excessive to shoot her son nine times.
Later in the evening, “Black Lives Matter” chants continued outside the Justice Center, led by activist and hate crime survivor Demetria Hester. A few dozen people joined in and someone set the rhythm of the chants with a drum.
Police said at one point in the night, they received reports of a group committing assaults near Southwest 4th Avenue and Southwest Taylor Streets. The police response was reportedly complicated by a hostile group, however.
Shortly before 10:30 p.m., an incident occurred near SW Taylor and Broadway where a pickup truck was found on the sidewalk and police present at the scene. Police said protesters were chasing the truck before it crashed, and they assaulted the driver afterward. When officers arrived at the scene, they were reportedly greeted by a hostile crowd.
The driver was taken away in an ambulance with serious injuries.
Witnesses on the scene told KOIN 6 the driver of the truck was attempting to run protesters over. Police are investigating.
The small group of protesters at the Justice Center marched to the Portland Police Bureau entrance to the building on SW 2nd Avenue. Police emerged at one point to clear the street so a handful of people could exit the building.
Most of the crowd had dispersed by 1 a.m.
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The Portland Police Bureau declared a riot around midnight Saturday and arrested 11 people, following several hours of demonstrations outside the Penumbra Kelly Building on E Burnside Street.
PPB said members of the crowd protesting in the parking lot of the Penumbra Kelly Building began launching mortars at police cars before throwing other items at officers. PPB said several rocks were thrown at police — some causing injury.
Police arrested 11 people on numerous offenses, including riot, disorderly conduct, escape, criminal mischief, interfering with a peace officer, and resisting arrest. Of those arrested, six people face charges of assaulting a police officer: Egan Lawyer, 18; Jonathan Draxton, 30; Christina Brandal, 26; Marcus Paul, 19; Alex Hatzikos, 19; Andrey Lyubinetsky, 32.