A Portland man was brought before the court for the first time today, following accusations of assaulting a federal officer near a local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. The defendant, identified as 49-year-old Devin P. Montgomery, is facing a criminal complaint charging him with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.
According to information released by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Oregon, Montgomery allegedly operated an Unmanned Aircraft System, also known as a drone, in a designated no-fly zone around the South Portland ICE office last Thursday afternoon. Despite warnings from the Federal Protective Service (FPS) about the flight restrictions, Montgomery purportedly continued to fly the drone in the prohibited space. Federal officers who confronted him claim that he responded belligerently and later spat in an officer's face during his arrest.
These latest events fall within a broader context of intensified direct actions at the ICE building, where, since June 13, 26 defendants have been similarly charged with various federal offenses. The alleged crimes range from arson and possession of destructive devices to the assaulting of federal officers and damaging government property, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Oregon. Montgomery's court appearance today marks yet another chapter in the ongoing disputes characterizing the local ICE office's contested grounds.
Montgomery, after his appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge, has been released under specific conditions pending further court proceedings. If convicted for the felony of assaulting a federal officer, he could face up to 8 years in federal prison. It's important to remember, as the U.S. Attorney's Office notes, "a criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."
