Portland protesters set fire at police building, 14 arrested
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Protesters in Portland late Thursday set fire to plywood attached to the front door of a police union building in Oregon’s largest city and clashed with officers, who made 14 arrests, police said in a statement.
Images posted online showed flames erupting outside the doors of the Portland Police Association office. Some protesters managed later to get on the roof of the building, police said in a statement Friday.
The protesters who were detained were arrested on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to interfering with officers and trespassing.
The violence came a day after people hurled several firebombs at officers during a demonstration over a Kentucky grand jury’s decision to not indict officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, police said.
The city has had nearly four months of near nightly protests over racial injustice and police brutality.
Deputy Police Chief Chris Davis said Wednesday night’s demonstrations were the most violent that Portland has experienced since the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in Minnesota after a white officer held a knee to his neck.
Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt — who has been criticized for dismissing cases against hundreds of protesters — condemned the violence and called for calm.
Thirteen people were arrested during Wednesday night’s demonstration.
Read more at: https://apnews.com/article/police-oregon-racial-injustice-fires-portland-10b61ab9bf5c418648a328b1f3eb0695
Mass Gathering Sets Fire to Portland Police Association Office and Vandalizes Property; Unlawful Assembly Declared
Portland Police Bureau - 09/25/20 1:41 AM
A mass gathering devolved into an unlawful assembly after individuals set fire to a building, vandalized property, and blocked vehicular traffic.
On September 24, 2020, a group began by gathering at Arbor Lodge Park located in the 6900 block of North Greeley Avenue. Around 9:10 p.m., a march began in the street to the area of the Portland Police Association office located in the 1800 block of North Lombard Street. As the crowd approached the Portland Police Association, people stood in the street blocking North Lombard Street in both directions. Support vehicles associated with the group were used as barricades to block traffic on North Lombard Street at North Denver Avenue and North Elmore Avenue. Some group members were seen vandalizing property by tagging it with spray paint.
At 9:30 p.m., all persons were told over loud speaker that there was criminal activity occurring in the crowd and to not vandalize the building or attempt to light it on fire. Failure to adhere to the order would subject people to arrest, citation, or the use of crowd control agents including, but not limited to, impact weapons and/or OC munitions (Oleoresin Capsicum).
Despite the warnings given by the sound truck, the group continued to stand in the street and/or vandalize property. At 10:07 p.m., a group member attempted to set fire to the awnings affixed to the Portland Police Association office. Another person was seen hammering the front door of the building, in an attempt to enter the property. At 10:25 p.m., a group member was successful in lighting the plywood affixed to the front door of the building on fire.
Due to the ongoing criminal behavior and the fire set to the building, an unlawful assembly was declared and all persons were told over loudspeaker to immediately leave the area to the north. Failure to adhere to the order would subject them to arrest, citation, or the use of crowd control agents including, but not limited to, impact weapons and/or OC munitions (Oleoresin Capsicum).
At 10:30 p.m., officers began to disperse the crowd and several members of the group were taken into custody. After several group members were taken in to custody, officers disengaged. A lot of the group remained in the area. At 11:12 p.m., a targeted arrest was made by officers. After the arrest, officers once again disengaged. Around 11:30 p.m., some group members climbed on the roof of the Portland Police Association office. Officers once again returned to the building and targeted arrests were made.
By 1 a.m., most of the group had dispersed.
Portland Police did not use any crowd control munitions.
