30 arrests made by unified law enforcement in Portland this weekend

Thirty arrests were made during Portland protests and counter-demonstrations this weekend.

According to an update from the Multnomah County Sheriff Department on behalf of the unified law enforcement group, “After largely peaceful protests throughout the day Saturday, several hundred protesters gathered in Downtown Portland around 8:30 p.m. in Lownsdale and Chapman Square Parks.”

Peaceful protests turned into an unlawful assembly shortly after 8:30 pm on Saturday, leading to dispersal tactics from Portland police officers, Multnomah County Sheriffs, and Oregon State Police.

“Officers moved in and made several arrests. While making arrests and ticketing illegally parked vehicles, projectiles were thrown at officers including full beverages cans, firecrackers, and rocks.”

• See also:
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Following some attempts to disengage, officers made more arrests and continued to ask those gathered to leave the area. They were again met with projectiles.

“While the majority of the crowd dispersed by 1:30 a.m. Sunday, a small group of hostile individuals remained. Individuals threw glass bottles at the direction of officers. Law enforcement officers performed several additional arrests in Chapman Square Park.”

Most arrests were made under charges of interference of an officer, while some have additional charges of attempted assault of an officer.

“Thirty people were arrested by officers working under the unified command related to various mass gatherings Saturday.”

After preparing for a potentially dangerous situation this weekend, Oregon Governor Kate Brown rescinded her executive order to unify law officers from state, county, and city levels.

Free speech and free press are two of my core values. I take the use of physical force by law enforcement officers seriously, whether it involves members of the public or the media.

— Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) September 28, 2020

“I would like to thank the law enforcement officers of the Oregon State Police, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Portland Police Bureau, and other local law enforcement agencies for their professionalism as they executed this plan to prevent confrontations and violence,” said Governor Brown in the dissolution of her executive order.

“I would also like to thank Oregonians for not rising to the bait when the Proud Boys came from out of town to express their hateful views yesterday. When we all work together as a community to keep the peace, we can keep Oregonians safe while still allowing free expression under the First Amendment.”