Portland Burning: Thugs Throw Softball Sized Rocks at Officers, Light Fires : Assault Suspect, Others Arrested
Individuals Throw Softball Sized Rocks at Officers, Light Fires, Break Windows, Vandalize Building during Mass Gathering at ICE Building Portland PD reports.
In the evening hours of August 19, 2020, a group of a couple hundred people gathered in Elizabeth Caruthers Park located on the 3500 block of South Moody Avenue for a march that began around 9:15 p.m. The march proceeded south to the 4300 block of South Macadam Avenue which is where the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building is located. During the march, streets were blocked to vehicular traffic by support vehicles associated with the group.
When the group reached the ICE building, they blocked traffic on Southwest Bancroft Street at South Moody Avenue. Several people in the crowd were seen carrying shields and wearing helmets and gas masks. At approximately 9:28 p.m., members of the group approached the windows and doors to the ICE building. These people began shining lights and lasers at Federal officers located inside of the building. Group members began kicking and banging on the doors and windows of the ICE building. The group was seen spray painting graffiti on the outside of the ICE building as well.
Because the crowd blocked traffic, shined lasers at Federal officers, and vandalized property, at 10:07 p.m., the gathering was declared an unlawful assembly. Several public address announcements were made to the crowd informing them an unlawful assembly had been declared and that they needed to disperse to the north. The crowd was informed that if they failed to disperse it could result in citation or arrest. Those group members who did not disperse would also be subjected to tear gas, crowd control munitions, or impact weapons. Despite several warnings, the crowd remained outside of the ICE Building.
At 10:18 p.m., Portland Police officers began to disperse the crowd, as officers dispersed the crowd, glass bottles and rocks were thrown at them. Lots of people in the crowd carrying shields used the shields to resist officers’ efforts to disperse the crowd to the north. By 10:37 p.m., the crowd returned to the ICE building, despite the repeated public address announcements regarding the unlawful assembly. Some people in the group began setting up barricades in surrounding streets and even moved a dumpster towards the ICE building. In the past, dumpsters have been lit on fire and moved next to targeted buildings, in an attempt to set structural fires. Federal officers exited the ICE building and members of the group began throwing large rocks as well as glass bottles at them. The large rocks were described to be the size of softballs. At 10:49 p.m., Portland police once again began to disperse the crowd, as the crowd was dispersed, officers were hit with these large rocks. Officers were also hit with full cans of soda, and a hammer. Because of the risk to life safety caused by these dangerous projectiles, the gathering was declared a riot.
Several public address announcements were made to the crowd, informing them a riot had been declared and they needed to disperse immediately to the north. The crowd was informed that if they failed to disperse it could result in citation or arrest. Those group members who did not disperse would also be subjected to tear gas, crowd control munitions, or impact weapons. As officers continued to disperse the crowd to the north, a cone was thrown at an officer.
Once the group was at South Gaines Street and South Bond Avenue, the group set a mattress on fire in the middle of the intersection. At 11:30 p.m., a picnic table from a nearby business was moved onto the fire, which generated an even larger fire. While the fire was burning, group members blocked the intersection and chanted loudly. At 11:39 p.m., a majority of the group left the area and marched back south towards the ICE building. When the group arrived at the ICE building, people began breaking windows to the building.
Once again, public address announcements were made to the crowd, informing them the gathering was still declared a riot and that they needed to disperse to the north. After several announcements, most of the group remained blocking the street and engaged in criminal behavior. Portland police once again began to disperse the group to the north. As the group was dispersed, officers were hit with more large rocks and water bottles. During the dispersal, some custodies were made.
A small group returned outside of the ICE building, however, the group mostly dispersed by 1:30 a.m.
Two arrests were made during the event. 30-year-old Joshua Buckley was arrested and charged with Interfering with a Peace Officer and Disorderly Conduct II. 25-year-old Mark Putman was arrested and charged with Interfering with a Peace Officer and Disorderly Conduct II. Both of these individuals were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.
Officers sustained some minor injuries due to the rocks thrown at them. Crowd control munitions and CS gas were used during dispersals.
Marquise Love, 25, has been arrested for savagely beating a truck driver in Portland.
Yesterday, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) began investigation of an assault that occurred in the downtown area where an adult male associated to a white pick-up truck was violently assaulted. Investigators positively identified the suspect as 25 year-old Marquise Love. Investigators made attempts to contact Love but could not locate him.
PPB Investigators have been made aware of attempts by members of the public to contact Love after possible personal information was posted online. Investigators urge the public to not do this as it can be dangerous. Also, the information circulating on social media is not always accurate.
Other reports around social media claim that the victim in this case is not recovering or has succumbed to the injuries. These reports are false. The victim has been released from the hospital and is recovering.
Investigators are still trying to locate a transgender female who had some of her things stolen in the area of Southwest Taylor and 4th Ave, the location where this incident began. That person has not been contacted and their identity is unknown. Investigators would like to speak to this person.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective Brent Christensen at 503-823-2087 or at Brent.Christensen@portlandoregon.gov.
PPB understands the high public interest in cases such as these. The release of information may not be as timely as the public would like. Social media platforms make it quick to circulate information but investigators often need to make other connections not seen in videos. Investigators need to protect the integrity of the cases they are assigned in order to present the best case to prosecutors and sometimes an early release of unverified information can hinder that process.
“The Portland Police Bureau is taking this assault and other incidents of violence extremely seriously,” said Chief Lovell. “Our Detectives continue to investigate this assault as well as other acts of violence directed toward protestors, but we need more than just videos from social media. In order to hold individuals responsible for criminal acts, we need the public to provide information and refrain from tampering with evidence.”
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###ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW###
On August 16, 2020 at 10:27 p.m., Portland Police officers responded to an accident call at the intersection of Southwest Taylor Street and Broadway. The call read that “protestors chased a white Ford 4×4, which has crashed” at that location and “protestors drug him out of car.” Another witness called prior to police arrival and reported that 9-10 people were “beating the guy.”
Officers responded and found an adult male who was unconscious with injuries. The victim was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is recovering.
Portland Police became aware of video’s circulating through social media, which show various events of what led up to an assault of the victim. The series of events was carried out in different locations involving many different people. This in an ongoing investigation and the Police Bureau will provide further information as it is available. Below are chronological links to the videos posted on Twitter by Drew Hernandez @livesmattershow and Kalen From Scriberr @FromKalen:
###PPB###
Portland Police have declared a riot:
The gathering outside of the ICE building in the 4300 block of Southwest Macadam Boulevard is still declared a riot. All people in this area must disperse to the north. For your safety, if you reside in this area, we ask you to go inside your residence.
Failure to comply with this order may subject you to citation or arrest, as well as subject you to the use of tear gas, crowd control agents, and/or impact weapons