‘Burn it down’: Portland protesters light fire near police precinct; 15 arrested
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A fire started outside a police precinct on Portland's north side resulted in about 15 arrests during protests Sunday night into Monday morning, police said.
Demonstrators protesting police brutality began marching at about 9 p.m. Sunday and stopped at the North Precinct Community Policing Center, the site of several volatile protests in recent months.
Officials warned demonstrators against entering the precinct property, saying they would be trespassing and subject to arrest.
Shortly after arriving, the crowd began chanting, among other things, “burn it down," police said in a statement. Some in the group lit a mattress on fire just after 10 p.m.
“Because it was not an immediate threat to life safety or structures, officers remained far back and did not engage,” police said. “Another mattress was added to the fire, as was some yard debris. The larger fire began to send lit embers into the air.”
Since Multnomah County has a burn ban in effect due to extremely dry conditions, firefighters came in to extinguish the blaze.
Demonstrators moved to another side of the building and blocked some streets until dispersed by police. Most protesters were gone by about 1 a.m. Monday.
“Officers discovered one arrestee was in possession of a glass jar filled with flammable liquid,” police said. “Another had a bottle containing an accelerant and a slugging weapon known as a slung shot. Still another had an electronic control weapon (“stun gun”) and a baton. Two arrestees had ballistic vests, including one, marked with the word “press,” with rifle plates.”
Most of those arrested were from Portland. Others were from San Francisco; Sacramento, California; Mesa, Arizona; and two from Vancouver, Washington.
Charges included interfering with an officer, resisting arrest, reckless burning and possession of a destructive device.
On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered for rallies and marches.
Molotov cocktails thrown in the street during a march sparked a large fire and prompted police to declare a riot. Police confirmed that tear gas was deployed to defend themselves and said 59 people were arrested, ranging in age from 15 to 50.
Demonstrations in Portland started in late May after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Fires Started, Prompt Arrests During Protest (Photo)
Portland Police Bureau - 09/07/20 2:59 AM
A large fire was ignited in the street outside of North Precinct, prompting some arrests during a protest Sunday night into Monday morning.
On Sunday, September 6, 2020 at about 9:00p.m., a march began from Alberta Park at 2001 Northeast Killingsworth Street. The march proceeded to Northeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard at Northeast Emerson Street, the location of the North Precinct Community Policing Center.
North Precinct has been the site of numerous violent protests over the past few months, including instances where arsonists attempted to burn down the building with people inside. It is an active, working community policing facility, is a critical part of city infrastructure, and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is also connected to multiple private businesses, and is in a densely populated neighborhood. For those reasons, as the gathering approached the facility, the marchers were advised by loudspeaker and social media that Northeast Emerson Street was closed between Northeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard and Northeast 6th Avenue.
Shortly after arriving, the crowd began chanting, among other things, "burn it down." Some dragged a mattress into the street, Northeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard at Northeast Emerson Street, and lit it on fire. Because it was not an immediate threat to life safety or structures, officers remained far back and did not engage. Another mattress was added to the fire, as was some yard debris. The larger fire began to send lit embers into the air. Multnomah County has a burn ban in effect due to extremely dry conditions. Portland Fire and Rescue expressed concern about the danger the fire posed to the community. Portland Police notified the gathering that firefighters would be moving in to extinguish the fire. When police moved forward to secure the area, the majority of the crowd moved back. However, one arrest was made. Portland Fire and Rescue put out the mattress fire and then officers disengaged.
After about an hour, the majority of the gathering moved around to the North side of the precinct, blocking traffic on Northeast Killingsworth Street. For the security of the facility, officers prevented the march from proceeding south on Northeast 6th Avenue. The crowd was advised over loudspeaker that Southeast 6th Avenue was closed between Northeast Killingsworth Street and Northeast Roselawn Street. While the crowd blocked the street, drivers in two separate cars trying to proceed were caught by surprise and were stuck in the middle of the crowd. This caused some confrontations, but no known injuries.
After an hour, officers disengaged after multiple times advising the crowd not to follow officers. Several did follow officers into the closure area and arrests were made.
By about 1:00a.m., the majority of the demonstration had meandered away.
Officers discovered one arrestee was in possession of a glass jar filled with flammable liquid. Another had a bottle containing an accelerant and a slugging weapon known as a slung shot. Still another had an electronic control weapon ("stun gun") and a baton. Two arrestees had ballistic vests, including one, marked with the word "press," with rifle plates (photos).
The following 15 people were arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center:
Cole Cunningham, 38, of Portland -- Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, Resisting Arrest
Adam Layee, 36, unknown residence -- Reckless Burning, Possession of a Destructive Device
Camillo Masagli, 26, of Portland -- Reckless Burning
Stacey Kirshbaum, 54, of San Francisco, California -- Interfering with a Peace Officer
Gerald Kohler, 19, of Oregon City, Oregon - Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Brennan Schill, 23, of Mesa, Arizona - Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Sean Lopez, 25, of Portland - Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Rachel Raffaelli-Wong, 29, of Sacramento, California - Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Daniel Glenn, 36, of Portland - Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Lucas Angell-Atchison, 25, of Portland - Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Tayler Hansen, 20, of Utah - Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Ronald Curteman, 24, of Vancouver, Washington - Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Obadiah Powell, 20, of Portland - Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Scarlet Passmore, 28, of Portland - Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Deidra Watts, 25, of Vancouver, Washington - Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
All attached photos are the possession of the Portland Police Bureau and are intended for public use.
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