A man was taken into custody near Multnomah County's Central Library on SW 10th Avenue after allegedly threatening another person with what appeared to be a gun during a fight, and library staff later discovered he was carrying two replica firearms. The library closed following the incident, though the reason for the closure was not immediately clear.
Officers responded to a confrontation near the library and found two people fighting, according to KPTV. Police say the man threatened another person with a weapon during the altercation, and officers took him into custody at the scene. Staff subsequently found two replica guns in his possession, the station reports. KPTV says it reached out to the library for comment and plans to update its report as more information becomes available.
A Weapon That Looks Real Carries Real Legal Weight
Even though the guns were replicas, Oregon law treats the situation seriously. Under Oregon Revised Statutes § 163.190, menacing occurs when someone intentionally attempts by word or conduct to place another person in fear of imminent serious physical injury, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and fines as high as $6,250, according to Oregon Laws. Separately, Oregon Revised Statutes § 166.220 makes possessing or carrying a dangerous weapon with intent to use it unlawfully against another a Class C felony carrying up to five years in prison, per the same statutory framework.
Replica firearms carry their own set of dangers once police get involved. The Beaverton Police Department warns that replica guns missing their orange safety tips can trigger full armed police responses, since officers often cannot visually distinguish them from real firearms in high-stress moments. That dynamic means brandishing a realistic-looking fake gun can create the same immediate alarm, and the same risk of a fatal police response, as carrying the real thing.
Another Incident Adds to a Troubled Stretch Outside Central Library
This is not the first violent episode to unfold just outside the historic branch at 801 SW 10th Avenue. On July 1, 2025, a 50-year-old man was shot and killed on the library's front steps, leading to murder charges against a 26-year-old suspect and becoming part of a subsequent security dispute, according to Willamette Week. Then on August 25, 2025, a 44-year-old man was stabbed multiple times after exiting the library when he tried to intervene in a disturbance outside, leading to three arrests — an incident Hoodline covered at the time.
Those back-to-back incidents ignited an ongoing dispute between Portland police, Multnomah County officials, and business advocates over who bears responsibility for security on the library's perimeter. In response, the county library system disabled after-hours exterior Wi-Fi in July 2025 on the recommendation of Portland police, aiming to discourage late-night loitering around the building, as Willamette Week reported. In October 2025, the library also announced it was hiring a dedicated Safety and Security Manager and installing restroom vapor sensors at Central Library.
County Rejected Metal Detectors Just Months Ago
Despite the run of violent incidents, Multnomah County officials decided in January 2026 against installing metal detectors at Central Library. The decision followed a feasibility study and a community survey, according to KGW. The decision effectively resolved months of debate between city police leaders pushing for screening and county library administrators who prioritized keeping the historic building openly accessible.
The library is a historic building occupying a full city block bounded by SW 10th and 11th avenues and Yamhill and Taylor streets, making its front steps and perimeter a highly visible stage for the security debate playing out among city and county leaders.
That debate unfolds amid disputes over police response and calls going unanswered.
