Portland latest: Prosecutors drop serious charges

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Latest on protests against President-elect Donald Trump in Portland, Oregon (all times local):

2:15 p.m.

Prosecutors have dropped more serious charges against protesters who have been arrested by police in Portland since Donald Trump was elected president.

Portland police and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office, in a joint statement on Monday, said nearly all the more than 100 people who were arrested on charges such as attempted assault on a peace officer and disorderly conduct will instead receive traffic citations for failing to obey a police officer.

If convicted, that is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000. Those other more serious charges are being called a “no complaint” by the district attorney’s office.

The statement says the sheer number of arrests during protests over the last several days has been an exceptional event and the charges being “no complainted” on Monday is not unexpected. But it did come as an unexpected surprise to some of those charged and their supporters who packed a courtroom in downtown Portland. They reacted with smiles and subdued calls of “yes!”

____

12:55 p.m.

Portland police say they will release from jail an 18-year-old man who had been arrested in the shooting and wounding of an anti-Trump protester, after further investigation determined that he was not a suspect.

Police said on Monday that Steffon Marquese Corothers will be released after detectives determined that a 14-year-old male was a suspect in the shooting early Saturday. Police say the youth has been arrested and placed in a juvenile detention home on charges of attempted murder and unlawful use of a weapon.

Also charged in connection with the shooting was 18-year-old Shamar Xavier Hunter.

The shooting occurred after occupants of a car got into a confrontation with protesters on a bridge. Xavier Hunter was driver of the car. Police say Xavier Hunter has also been charged in a gang-related shooting that occurred on November 1, 2016.

Police have said occupants of the vehicle are believed to be criminal gang associates. Police say the protester who was wounded did not have gang ties.

____

12:00 p.m.

Hundreds of Portland high school students who walked out of school marched to city hall and then across a bridge to the city’s east side.

The students — some who appeared to be middle school age — walked off at least four campuses Monday to protest President-elect Donald Trump.

They gathered in front of City Hall and then marched across a bridge to the city’s east side in a light rain.

Police were allowing the march to proceed.

Students chanted “Peaceful Protest” and “No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA!”

They were joined by college students from Reed College.

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales says violent protests aren’t a productive way to create change.

He says demonstrations can be peaceful but believes those in Portland are being used as cover for “outrageous, bad, criminal behavior.”

City officials have said daily protests since Thursday have caused $1 million in damage and resulted in more than 100 arrests overall.

Families with children also gathered Sunday for a peaceful vigil.