Over the weekend, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) found themselves pivoting from overseeing a large-scale peaceful march to addressing criminal incidents near the ICE Building in South Portland. According to an official statement by the City of Portland, officers made three arrests as some protesters turned to violence yesterday evening.
During the protest, PPB's specialized teams, including Dialogue Liaison Officers and the Rapid Response Team, were on the scene. The crowd reportedly inflicted an injury on a federal officer following peaceful demonstrations. Declaring a riot after 5:49 p.m., a medical event was reported and PPB instructed the crowd to not interfere with responding medics. One of the arrests made involved a suspect attempting to assault a public safety officer. Despite the riot declaration, the federal officer was later found to not require medical treatment.
As the night unfolded, PPB continued to monitor activities, intervening to arrest individuals for targeted criminal acts. After utilizing visibility patrols, officers had to often disengage when their presence seemed to escalate tensions, while remaining ready to address further infractions. Subsequent arrests included a person caught throwing a rock at the ICE Building and an individual apprehending traffic control devices into his truck on Southwest Macadam Boulevard.
The individuals arrested were Sabian Crisantos, who faced attempted assault charges; Tyson Kahnert, booked with several charges including attempted assault and harassment; and Cory Oien, charged with theft and DUII. All were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center. "The arrests were strictly focused on criminal actions," the PPB statement emphasized, with a forthcoming stance on conducting investigations and following up on property destruction and violent activities not immediately actionable, as reported by City of Portland.
Reaffirming its commitment to not engage in immigration enforcement, the PPB referred citizens to Chief Day's community letter and FAQ about immigration policies available on their website. With recent events underscoring the tension between practicing constitutional rights and maintaining public order, Portland authorities maintain vigilance against criminal activities irrespective of the surrounding political discourse.
