Portland Police declared a riot last night after officers were attacked with large rocks, lasers and commercial grade fireworks.

Demonstrators were outside of the East Precinct building on Southeast 106th Avenue when they started blocking traffic.

Here's the police account of events:

Around 8 p.m., a separate group began to gather at Floyd Light Park located on the 700 block of Southeast 106th Avenue. For about an hour, the group grew to a couple hundred people in size. Around 9:15 p.m., the group walked in to Southeast 106th Avenue, blocking both lanes of traffic. Some people in the group began blocking the entryway to the East Precinct garage located at 737 Southeast 106th Avenue. While the group blocked the street, many of those in the group began shining green lasers and other lights at officers who were positioned on the East Precinct roof.

By 9:24 p.m., several vehicles associated with the group were also blocking traffic on Southeast 106th Avenue. A member in the group was seen attempting to tear the surveillance camera off of the front doors of East Precinct. Other people in the group began spray painting the camera as well as the front doors of the precinct. Lots of members of the group were seen wearing helmets and carrying shields.

At 9:33 p.m., Portland Police began making public address announcements, informing the crowd that criminal activity was occurring and if those in the crowd were there to peacefully protest, they needed to vacate the area immediately. The announcements were given several times, however, members in the group continued to tamper with the front doors of East Precinct. By 9:40 p.m., people began tearing off the boards that were protecting the glass windows of East Precinct. Several people in the group began to ram a large 2 by 4 piece of wood in to the front glass doors in an effort to shatter them. Other members of the group slammed different heavy large objects into the glass doors as well. The objects included large rocks.

Due to the ongoing criminal behavior, an unlawful assembly was declared at 9:45 p.m. Portland Police once again made public address announcements, telling the group to leave the area to the south. Most of the group continued to stay on Southeast 106th Avenue. By 9:50 p.m., those who had been destructing the East Precinct glass doors successfully cracked them, causing significant damage. Since serious ongoing criminal behavior continued, a riot was declared at 9:56 p.m. At 10 p.m., the front doors of East Precinct were barricaded and a fire was started using plywood and an accelerant.

At 10:06 p.m., officers began to disperse the crowd. While dispersing the crowd, officers were hit with projectiles and commercial grade fireworks. Because of life safety issues created by members in the group, CS gas and crowd control munitions were used. While dispersing efforts continued, a truck associated with the group attempted to run over several officers.

An unknown suspicious device was left outside of East Precinct by members of the group prior to the dispersal. The area was secured once the group was cleared from the area and the device was later found not to be an explosive.

As the officers continued to disperse the group eastbound on Southeast Stark Street, several more projectiles such as heavy rocks the size of shot puts were thrown towards them. Some of these rocks successfully hit officers. Several people were taken into custody as the group was dispersed. The group was dispersed to the area of Southeast 113th Avenue and Southeast Stark Street.

At 11:19 p.m., most of the group had moved back westbound on Southeast Stark Street towards East Precinct. Officers once again dispersed the crowd and public address announcements were made to the crowd reminding them a riot had been declared and they were to leave the area. As officers dispersed the crowd, several balloons full of paint were thrown at officers.

Over the course of the next two hours, the group continued to return to the area of East Precinct and officers had to disperse the group two more times.

By 1:30 a.m. a majority of the crowd had left the area.

Several arrests were made during the event outside of East Precinct, information on arrests will be provided as it becomes available.

Mike Jones

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