Proud Boys member involved in Portland fights enters plea

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A right-wing extremist who rose to prominence for fighting in Portland during political protests and fled the Pacific Northwest after being indicted on felony assault charges has pleaded not guilty.

Tusitala “Tiny” Toese of Vancouver, Washington, pleaded not guilty to assault charges Monday.

He was arrested Friday at Portland International Airport. Supervisory deputy U.S. marshal in Oregon Eric Wahlstrom, says authorities had information Toese was flying into Portland and arrested him when his flight landed. Wahlstrom says his arrest wasn’t a previously planned surrender.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports he was released from jail after posting bail Saturday.

Toese reportedly returned to his hometown in American Samoa after a Multnomah County grand jury indicted him and Proud Boy Donovan Flippo on assault charges in February.

The two were accused of beating a man during a June 2018 confrontation in Portland. Flippo pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault earlier this year.

AP Only 2019