Several items including a gavel, pipe and a lockable chain were found Thursday during the cleanup of downtown Portland, Oregon, parks near where protests have been raging for weeks, police officials said Thursday.
The maintenance of the Chapman and Lownsdale squares, which are adjacent to each other, was carried out after a night of confrontation between authorities and protesters at the nearby US Mark O. Hatfield courthouse, the Portland Police Office.
OREGON STATE POLICE ARRIVES IN PORTLAND TO PUSH TO STOP ALLIES
Several weapons, including a sledgehammer, a pipe and a lockable chain, were found Thursday during a park cleanup in downtown Portland, Oregon.
(Portland Police Office)
Officers gave the people within 10 minutes to clear the area and no arrests were made at the time initially. In addition to the weapons, other items recovered in the parks included bulletproof vests, helmets, a shield, and leaf blowers.
“There were also shocking amounts of trash in the parks,” said a police press release.
Police officers who provide security for the cleanup arrested two people. Kristina Naranja Rivera, 34, faces charges of disorderly conduct and criminal mischief and Camillo Massagli, 25, faces charges of criminal mischief, trespassing, and interference with a peace officer.
Other items seized were bulletproof vests and leaf blowers.
(Portland Police Office)
On Wednesday night, several hundred people gathered outside the courthouse. A group that stayed until later in the evening wore gas masks and were seen carrying signs, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, umbrellas, leaf blowers and fireworks, police said.
At one point, the building was attacked with bottles, gas bottles, and other objects. In addition to Wednesday night’s protest, the city experienced multiple shootings and reports of people attacked near a group with a pellet gun.
Other items seized were bulletproof vests and leaf blowers.
(Portland Police Office)
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Two minors were arrested on suspicion of the assaults.
