More than 60 emergency calls to police went off overnight in Portland as officers occupied hundreds of protesters downtown and were pelted by rocks.
On the 80th consecutive night of protests, the Portland Police Bureau declared a riot at midnight on Sunday after a crowd of hundreds of three hours blocked traffic through the Penumbra Kelly building in the 4700 block of East Burnside Street, trespassing on the closed property and engaging in “violent, tumultuous behavior.”
The target building is owned by the city and is used by city and county employees, including the police station.
From midnight until about 2:45 a.m., Protestants ignored police warnings to disperse and began arguing among themselves.
Some threw objects at police cars in the parking lot of the building and spray-painted over security cameras. Others shone green lasers in front of officers’ eyes and pillared cops with softball-sized “river rocks” and glass bottles.
COSTS OF WEEKLY PROTEST FINANCIAL TOLE ESTABLISHMENT IN CASH STRIPED CITIES IN THE US
Two officers went to the hospital. A photo shared by the police station showed a 9.5-pound rock being thrown by a person posed as “press” as the officer “prepared to ride on a truck.” Several arrests were made.
Portland police are seen in riot gear during a standoff with protesters in Portland, Oregon on August 16, 2020. Protests have continued for the 80th consecutive night in Portland since the murder of George Floyd. (Photo by Paula Bronstein / Getty Images)
“At the time of this release, more than 60 calls for police services were being held around the city,” the police bureau said in a statement. “Some have held for the length of the events described here. Call types ranged from theft, vandalism, suspicious activity, threats, hit and run, burglary, violation of restraining order, alarms, car theft, harassment and many others.”
Officers tried to send the crowd back to Laurelhurst Park. Protesters swept through residential streets as people looked out of windows and porches to their homes, The Oregonian reported.
Meanwhile, a more than 17-hour crisis hearing took place early on Sunday in Forest Park, where an armed suspect has resisted police attempts to seize him for an evaluation of mental health.
The man tried to break into an occupied house for 7 hours on Saturday and made threats with knives before fleeing on foot. He shot himself in the park and claims he has a gun.
The Crisis Negotiation Team of the police station has unequivocally tried to seduce the man by offering water, food and clothing, and sending messages from friends and family. Officers also used tear gas, peppercorns, and impulse ammunition and sent it into a K-9 unit, but the suspect, with body weapons, tried to stab the dog, the bureau said.
Police said the man had been involved in at least eight 911 calls in the past week.
Portland police are seen in riot gear during a standoff with Protestants in Portland, Oregon on August 16, 2020. (Photo by Paula Bronstein / Getty Images)
PORTLAND TO INTERACT WITH HEAD FEDERAL AUTHORITIES
As unrest continues in Oregon’s largest city, a group of about 30 right-wing protesters held a patriot prayer rally in front of the Multnomah County Justice Center on Saturday afternoon, which quickly turned into chaos as they painted paintballs and pepper spray. dealing with counter-protesters, KOIN-TV reported.
Opponents protested in front of attendees at a parking garage and what sounded like two shooters were heard over the KOIN live broadcast.
Police spokesman Lt Greg Pashley told The Oregonian that they are aware of the allegation that shots were fired and will investigate. No injuries were reported.
Protesters will be seen during a standoff at a Portland police district in Portland, Oregon on August 15, 2020. (Photo by Paula Bronstein / Getty Images)
Last week, Oregon police announced they were leaving the city after a two-week mission to help protect a federal courthouse that is a target of Protestants.
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While the protests for racial justice and against police brutality during the day are generally peaceful, and draw a broad sword of citizens, they have often become violent at night.
Nights of unrest that increasingly targeted the federal court prompted President Trump to send U.S. agents to guard the building in July, which intensified demonstrations by Black Lives Matter and often ended in violent clashes.
Newly elected Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt decided not to prosecute people arrested for non-violent crimes. More than 500 people have been arrested since the protests began. So far, less than 50 are being prosecuted, according to The Associated Press.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
