Two Portland residents found themselves on the wrong side of the law this week amid ongoing protests around the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Late Tuesday night in the city's South Waterfront district, which has seen heightened police activity due to recent protests, the Portland Police Bureau apprehended the individuals in separate incidents related to protest activities. According to a statement released by PPB, they are keen to remind the public that while they don't enforce immigration laws, their role to maintain public order remains steadfast.
The first arrest occurred shortly after 10 p.m. when Phoenix Singer, 32, was detained for allegedly defacing the federal facility, the incident was addressed quickly and efficiently, and without resulting commotion, Singer has since been charged with Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, his actions representing a small fraction of the otherwise peaceful demonstrations that have played out along the waterfront. An hour later, Tyler Cox, 40, was taken into custody for attempting to assault a federal officer, following his alleged offense of throwing a rock; Cox faces charges of Attempted Assault of a Peace Officer and Attempted Assault in the Fourth Degree, with both suspects facing the legal ramifications of their alleged activities, the PPB has not made any further arrests in relation to these events.
In the aftermath of the arrests, the Portland Police Bureau has been conducting follow-up investigations into the criminal activity surrounding the week-and-a-half of protest actions, forwarding cases to the Multnomah County District Attorney as appropriate, as they stated in their release: "just because arrests are not made at the scene, when tensions are high, that does not mean that people are not being charged with crimes later." Mayor Wilson's response to the situation surrounding the ICE facility and Chief Day's letter addressing community concerns can be found via links in the Portland Police Bureau's statement.
The ongoing situation at the South Waterfront and the presence of law enforcement units, including the Dialogue Liaison Officers, Rapid Response Team, and other partners, reflects a city grappling with the balance between protest, public safety, and federal enforcement. For more information on PPB’s Public Order teams and their role— especially as they relate to immigration and the recent protests—a detailed description is available on the Portland Police Bureau's website.
