Portland May Day protest turns violent; 25 arrests
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Portland police say 25 people were arrested late Monday in a May day riot, including three juveniles.
Here’s a news release issued Monday night by the Portland Police Bureau:
On Monday May 1, 2017, 25 people were arrested after a permitted May Day rally and march devolved into a riot after dozens of suspects committed numerous criminal acts including disorderly conduct, riot, arson, criminal mischief (vandalism), theft, and assault.
Prior to the permitted march beginning, officers took possession of numerous sticks, poles, and homemade shields from participants arriving at Shemanski Park in Southwest Portland.
Early in the march, which was scheduled to travel through Downtown Portland and return to Shemanksi Park, rocks and projectiles were being launched at police officers and paramedics, including a full Pepsi can that struck a Portland Fire & Rescue paramedic assigned to assist the Portland Police Bureau’s Rapid Response Team (RRT).
Shortly after that, the situation devolved into a full-scale riot with random acts of vandalism to Downtown businesses, cars, and public and private property. Various fires were set in the street and in garbage cans, a police car was spray-painted and vandalized, and there were attempts to set at least one business on fire. Numerous projectiles were thrown at or launched at police and firefighters including rocks, bottles, ball bearings, fireworks, smoke bombs, and road flares.
Police Bureau Command announced that the permit for the march was being revoked and encouraged all law-abiding participants to leave Downtown Portland.
Criminal suspects were running all over Downtown Portland making it challenging for officers to effect arrests but eventually police were able to capture large groups of criminal suspects and make arrests in the area of Southwest 5th Avenue, Jefferson to Madison streets. During the riot, there were limited deployments of less lethal munitions by police.
“I’m very proud of the professionalism of Portland Police officers, Portland Firefighters and the members of the other law enforcement agencies that worked to keep the peace in Downtown Portland under very difficult circumstances,” said Police Chief Mike Marshman. “Unfortunately, the actions of the law breakers undermined and covered up the message of the law-abiding individuals who worked to peacefully get their message heard on May Day.”
Any business or private individual who was the victim of a crime during the riot is encouraged to file a police report by calling the Police Non-Emergency Line at 503-823-3333 or filing a report online at https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/cor/
A timeline of information and announcements can be found on the Portland Police Bureau’s Twitter account (@PortlandPolice), https://twitter.com/PortlandPolice
Those arrested include three juveniles and 22 adults (age, name, and charge):
17-year-old Callie Quinn-Ward — Arrested for Riot
14-year-old Brady Carcmichael — Arrested for Riot
17-year-old Tess Waxman — Arrested for Riot
21-year-old Ayden Michael Foster-Wysocki — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
18-year-old Madhab Pulle — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
37-year-old Tyler Hans Larsen — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
44-year-old Luis Marquez — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
20-year-old Grahme Meneses — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
22-year-old Jace Anthony Willis — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
42-year-old Corey Daniel Joe — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree and Assaulting a Police Officer
19-year-old Brianna Borgen — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
34-year-old Rachel Visco — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
33-year-old Phoebe Loomis — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
19-year-old Michell Korin Myers — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
22-year-old Rylie Wolff — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
35-year-old Lucy Elizabeth Smith — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
38-year-old Glenn Allen Silbersdorff — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
28-year-old Christopher Fellini — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
24-year-old Frank Martinez — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree and Resist Arrest
28-year-old Ian Lawrence Henderson — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
20-year-old Javier Ivan Reyes — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
34-year-old Dan Edward Wright — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
29-year-old Jeff Richard Singer — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree and Interfering with a Peace Officer
24-year-old Taylor James Evans — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree and Interfering with a Peace Officer
26-year-old John Barton Elliott — Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
All three juveniles were released to a parent. All adults received a traffic citation for violation of Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 811.535 (Failing to Obey a Police Officer).
Officers seized a small, concealable slingshot from one suspect containing various materials for ammunition.
The arrests of all involved will be reviewed for possible additional charges of Riot, Criminal Mischief and/or other criminal charges.
Individual booking photos of adults (juveniles not released) may be obtained from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office by visiting http://www.mcso.us
The Portland Police Bureau will continue to investigate criminal acts committed during the riot and is asking the public to share information about criminal suspects with police. Tips can be emailed to CrimeTips@portlandoregon.gov
Crime Stoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime and tipsters can remain anonymous.
Information about any other unsolved felony crime is eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,500.
Information learned from social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter or YouTube should be shared as these tips may lead to the identification of a suspect or suspects. Links can be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
Submit an anonymous tip:
Text CRIMES (274637) – Type 823HELP, followed by the tip.
Online at http://crimestoppersoforegon.com/submit_online_tip.php
Call 503-823-HELP (4357)
Visit http://www.tipsoft.com to download the TipSubmit app for the iPhone or Droid.
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Seattle police say five people were arrested in May day protests downtown.
Seattle police tweeted Monday night that the five people ranged in age from 19 to 51 years of age. The arrest charges included theft, obstruction, unlawful possession of a weapon and attempted assault.
Olympia Police Chief Ronnie Roberts said Monday night that nine people were arrested in connection with a May day protest turned riot and that all were booked on a felony riot charge.
Roberts says rioters hit nine police officers with rocks or marbles flung out of sling shots but no one was seriously injured thanks to police helmets and other gear.
Seattle police said earlier on Twitter that after increasing tensions and several fights in Westlake Park, officers issued the dispersal order to the crowd. Police say one of the arrests involved a 30-year-old suspect for unlawful possession of a hunting-style knife.
Police in Olympia, Washington said on Twitter that a couple officers were injured by thrown rocks and windows were broken at area businesses.
Police said the May day protest there quickly became a riot as officers ordered the mob to disperse. They said news crews, restaurant patrons and passersby in the area were being targeted by the mob. Police encouraged people to avoid the area.
Police said the group had been throwing rocks, bottles and using pepper spray. Police said anyone who didn’t leave would be subject to arrest.
Police described the group as “members of a mob” wearing masks and said they were firing rocks from sling shots at officers as well as throwing bottles and using pepper spray. Police said they had “deployed crowd control devices.”
Portland police said on Twitter that anarchists destroyed a police car, damaged numerous windows and property, started fires in the streets and attacked police.
Police were telling people to leave or risk arrest after canceling a permit obtained for the May Day event as some marchers began throwing projectiles at officers.
Police said on Twitter that all participants were encouraged to leave the march as smoke bombs and other items continued to be thrown at police
Earlier, in Portland’s Shemanski Park, about 200 people, including some families with children, gathered at the May Day rally and watched dancers in bright feathered headdresses perform to the beat of drums.
Several dozen people dressed entirely in black and wearing black bandanas and ski masks on their faces stood around the fringes of the Monday gathering holding signs that read “Radicals for Science!” and “No cuts! Tax the rich!” as police officers looked on.
City officials warned of the potential for road closures and traffic diversions later Monday due to several protests that lack permits. Several large stores downtown had already stationed private security guards at their doors and a Starbucks along one of the anticipated march routes closed at 1 p.m. in case of violent protests.
Meanwhile, chanting “Stand up, fight back,” hundreds of people marched through downtown Seattle to support immigrants and workers.
Native American dancers walked in front of the larger gathering of protesters.
The march followed a rally at a city park where speakers, including Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant, urged resistance to President Donald Trump’s policies.
Seattle traditionally sees large, disruptive May Day gatherings. Last year police used pepper spray to disperse black-clad protesters. Five officers were hurt, none seriously, and police arrested nine people.
Earlier Monday, several hundred people, many of them immigrants, gathered for a May Day rally on the steps of the Oregon Capitol.
Speakers on Monday said they would not be intimidated by any crackdowns on immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. One protester carried a sign saying bridges should be built instead of walls, referring to President Donald Trump’s plans to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown also appeared. The Democratic governor said that as long as she’s in office, Oregon will be welcoming and inclusive to all those who call the state home.
She said she met with farmers last week who are concerned new federal policies will devastate their businesses. The agricultural industry fears a crackdown will deprive it of the labor it needs.
