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Rioters With Shields Use Ball Bearings To Attack Portland Police

Portland, OR – Rioters attacked Portland police with golf balls, ball bearings, potatoes, and other projectiles on Monday night, injuring at least five officers.

The latest night of mayhem began at approximately 9:45 p.m., when a group of activists started blocking traffic as they marched down Northeast Killingsworth Street from Alberta Park to the Portland Police Bureau’s (PPB) North Precinct on Emerson Street, the PPB said in a press release.

Rioters armed with shields led the way, according to police.

“This is a working Community Policing Center. There have been previous attempts to storm this building and burn it down with people still inside,” the PPB noted.

As the mob approached, PPB officers and Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers stood guard outside the precinct to protect the building.

They repeatedly warned the group “not to participate in criminal behavior” such as “vandalism, unlawful entry to the building, or fire starting,” and reminded them that they could be subject to arrest or “crowd control agents” if they failed to remain lawful, according to the press release.

The mob responded by shining “bright strobe lights” in the officers’ eyes and pelting them with water bottles and eggs, police said.

The PPB declared an unlawful assembly at 11:06 p.m. due to the criminal activity.

Officers used a loudspeaker to order the group to disperse and warned them again about the potential consequences of failing to comply.

“Those that were not interested in a confrontation were given an opportunity to leave,” the PPB said. “Officers then began to physically move the crowd.”

Several rioters were arrested after they “interfered” with the officers who were moving them.

“While one suspect was being processed, he kicked an Oregon State Police trooper and two Portland Police detectives,” the PPB said.

Another officer was hit in the face by a ball bearing.

“The officer’s face shield protected him from what would have likely been a very serious injury,” the PPB said.

A fifth officer was transported to the hospital after she suffered a hyperextended elbow during a “scuffle” with a suspect, according to police.

She was treated and released.

Officers were also struck by potatoes, rocks, and golf balls throughout the night.

More rioters were arrested as police pushed the crowd further away from the North precinct.

Most of the crowd dissipated by approximately 2 a.m.

Nine people were arrested during the overnight rioting for offenses ranging from assault on a public safety officer to reckless driving, according to the PPB.

Written by
Holly Matkin

Holly is a former probation and parole officer who is married to a sheriff’s deputy. She is a regular contributor to Signature Montana magazine, and has written feature articles for Distinctly Montana magazine.

View all articles
Written by Holly Matkin

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