Portland, Oregon- Four people were arrested Wednesday night in Portland’s South Waterfront area during protest activity near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on South Bancroft Street, according to the Portland Police Bureau.
Police said most of the activity occurred about a block away from the ICE facility, near South Bancroft Street and South Bond Avenue. Officers monitored the area using an Incident Command Team led by a Crowd Management Incident Commander, who coordinated resources including Dialogue Liaison Officers, the Rapid Response Team, Air Support Unit, Mobile Field Forces, and a PPB sound truck.
The bureau said its Dialogue Liaison Officers, who wear white shirts and serve as non-enforcement communicators with demonstrators, were on scene to maintain communication during the protest. Officers reported that some suspects engaged in offensive physical contact, including pushing and spitting, leading to several arrests.
Those booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center were identified as:
• Jonathan J. Lincoln, 46, of Portland — Harassment
• Ren W. Purkerson, 43, of Keizer, Oregon — Harassment
• Bianca M. Barrett, 19, of Portland — Harassment
At about 9:30 p.m., officers stopped Christopher J. Norman, 28, of Vancouver, Washington, after observing what appeared to be a firearm in his vehicle. Police determined the weapon was a replica. Norman, who had a dog with him, was cited for menacing and released.
Later, around 10:52 p.m., the bureau’s Air Support Unit reported that the PPB airplane had been targeted with a powerful blue laser from the riverfront multiuse path near South Bancroft Street. Officers located the suspect and identified him as Norman, the same individual cited earlier. He was arrested again and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on a charge of recklessly endangering another person.
Including Norman’s two arrests, police said there have now been 45 total arrests in the South Waterfront area since nightly protests began in early June.
Officers also conducted high-visibility patrols on foot, bicycles, and in vehicles. One man was cited for having an open container of alcohol, and several traffic stops were made for violations.
The Portland Police Bureau emphasized that it does not engage in immigration enforcement under Directive 810.10, but remains responsible for maintaining public safety and enforcing state law.
Police said they will continue to monitor protest activity and investigate criminal acts as needed. Cases may be forwarded to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution following further investigation.
All suspects are believed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
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