RIOTERS ARRESTED: Portland Residents Accused of Obstructing Federal Officers Protecting Federal Property
Portland Resident Accused of Civil Disorder
PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced October 9, 2020, that a Portland, Oregon resident has been charged with Civil Disorder after he attempted to punch a Portland Police officer in the face during an unlawful assembly on August 4, 2020.
A federal grand jury in Portland has returned a 1-count indictment charging Travis Austin Hessel, 27, with Civil Disorder.
FROM POST-MILLENNIAL.COM
A federal grand jury indicted a Portland man after he attempted to punch a female cop in the face and dragged her a short distance during a Black Lives Matter-Antifa attack on a police station in August. The accused rioter had previously been arrested twice and charged with multiple violent felonies but all those charges were dropped by the local district attorney.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of August 4, 2020, an unlawful assembly was declared near the Penumbra Kelly Public Safety Building, located at 4735 E. Burnside Street in Portland, after individuals in a crowd of protestors shined powerful lasers at officers’ eyes, threw water bottles, beer and soda cans, marbles, and other hard objects at police officers. The crowd also blocked vehicular traffic on the street requiring a fire engine to divert around the protestors in order to respond to a structure fire.
When officers attempted to disburse the protestors, a smaller group of protestors braced themselves in an effort to resist being moved. A physical melee ensued, during which Hessel threw a punch at a female officer. When the officer grabbed him in order to place him under arrest, Hessel attempted to flee and dragged the officer a short distance before she lost her grip. Two other officers were able to detain Hessel and placed him under arrest.
Hessel was arraigned on the Indictment in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman. Hessel pleaded not guilty and ordered released pending a 2-day jury trial scheduled to begin on December 8, 2020.
TWO CHARGED WITH BLOCKING ACCESS TO FEDERAL BUILDING
PORTLAND, Ore. – Essence Maya Sylvester, 18, and Alexis Richter, 20, both of Portland, Oregon, made initial appearances today in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman.
The court arraigned Sylvester and Richter on a 2-count information alleging two misdemeanors: Failing to Obey a Lawful Order and Disorderly Conduct on Federal Property.
On the early morning hours of October 7, 2020, a protest group was protesting in front of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Building, where Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Services (FPS) Officers were assigned to protect federal property during protests and demonstrations taking place in Portland. Sylvester and Richter blocked the entrance to the building by lying across the entryway, preventing law enforcement vehicles from entering or leaving the premises. Both failed to move despite repeated warnings not to impede vehicular traffic. Both were arrested and refused to provide their names to officers. Sylvester and Richter were released on conditions pending a trial scheduled for December 8, 2020, before U.S. District Court Judge Marco A. Hernandez.
This case was investigated by Federal Protective Services and is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office.
Portland Resident Charged with Arson After Lighting Fires at the Justice Center During a Protest
PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced October 6, 2020, that a Portland, Oregon, resident has been charged with setting fire to the plywood and awnings on the Justice Center building that houses the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) and Portland Police Bureau’s (PPB) headquarters and Central Precinct.
“F— all you colonizers!...Everyone of you that’s against Black Lives Matter can f— the f— off.”
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) October 12, 2020
Antifa rioters in the process of toppling the Portland statue of Roosevelt. They were soon successful in pulling it down. Video by rioter Tracy Lynn Molina. pic.twitter.com/D5XgfX3slR
Cyan Waters Bass, 21, has been charged by criminal complaint with arson.
According to court documents, during protest events on the evening of September 23, 2020, law enforcement officers conducting surveillance for unlawful activity during protests observed an individual, later identified as Cyan Waters Bass, walking near the Justice Center. Bass was observed dressed in a black jacket, dark pants, with a black cloth face covering, carrying a black backpack with a black baseball cap attached to it.
During the evening, officers saw Bass holding a crowbar and using a slingshot or wrist-rocket to shoot projectiles through the windows of the PPB Central Precinct portion of the building. Officers later collected a white marble from within the Central Precinct. Officers observed Bass as he used a container to squirt a liquid on the plywood covering windows on a section of the north side of the building several times and lit it on fire. Officers observed the fire catch and spread to an awning on the building. Bass was later observed walking on the east side of the building near the entrance to PPB’s Central Precinct where Bass again squirted a liquid on the plywood that covered sections of the building. Bass then lit the plywood on fire that quickly spread to the awning above which scorched the plywood and concrete and damaged the awning.
Officers maintained observation of Bass until he was located and arrested the same evening. Bass was found in possession of white marbles in his pocket and a clear bottle with an unknown liquid, a black crowbar, a black slingshot, two lighters and a black baseball cap.
The Justice Center is owned by both Multnomah County and the City of Portland. The Justice Center houses the Multnomah County Detention Center which during this time had 268 persons being held. This building also houses the headquarters of the Portland Police Bureau and Central Precinct. Both of these jurisdictions receive federal funding including related to this location which on this date was housing 25 federal inmates held in custody on exclusively federal matters.
Cyan Waters Bass made an initial appearance on the complaint in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman. Bass pleaded not guilty and was ordered released pending an arraignment on Thursday December 3 following a grand jury proceeding.
Portland Resident Accused of Throwing Rocks
at Federal Officers Protecting Federal Property
PORTLAND, Ore. – Christian Burke, 23, of Portland, Oregon, made an initial appearance on October 5, 2020, in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman.
The court arraigned Burke on a 1-count information alleging misdemeanor assault on a federal officer. On the afternoon of August 22, 2020 Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Services (FPS) Officers were assigned to protect federal property located at the Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt (EGWW) Federal Office Building during protests and demonstrations taking place downtown.
On that date, a protest group was marching south down 3rd avenue in front of the EGWW entrance. There also was a counter-protest group engaging the protest group. During this engagement, multiple objects were being thrown by individuals in the counter-protest group in the direction of the other protest group and federal law enforcement officers. One of the FPS agents was observing the protest and counter protest activity from federal property when the agent saw a large rock thrown directly towards him coming from the crowd. The rock struck a tree near the agent. Another officer described a person later identified as Burke as the one who threw the rock. That observation was confirmed with video evidence.
Burke was released pending trial scheduled for December 8, 2020 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman.
Three Oregonians Accused of Crimes During Civil Disorder Events in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced September 28, 2020, that three Portland, Oregon residents have been charged with crimes during civil disorder events.
A federal grand jury in Portland, Oregon has returned a one-count indictment charging John Phillip Wenzel, with Civil Disorder on August 14, 2020.
Halston Eugene Hamilton and Michael Lee Pilgrim have been charged with Violation of National Defense Airspace, a misdemeanor, for flying a drone within federal airspace on September 26, 2020.
Oregon Resident Accused of Interfering with Police Making Arrests During Civil Disorder in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced September 28, 2020, that a Portland, Oregon resident has been charged with jumping onto the back of a police officer who was arresting someone, as the officer was engaged in lawful crowd dispersal during a civil disorder event.
A federal grand jury in Portland, Oregon has returned a one-count indictment charging Meganne Elizabeth Englich-Mills, 24, with Civil Disorder.
According to court documents, during the evening hours of September 5, 2020, a crowd of people attempted to march to the Portland Police Bureau’s East Precinct located at 737 SE 106th avenue from Ventura Park. When the crowd encountered law enforcement officers, multiple firebombs and commercial-grade fireworks were thrown by the crowd towards law enforcement, resulting in injury to both law enforcement and community members. The assembly was declared a riot and the crowd received multiple warnings to disperse from the area. The crowd refused to disperse and people in the crowd began throwing rocks at law enforcement and lit several fires in the streets using dumpsters, garbage cans, and wooden pallets.
Meganne Elizabeth Englich-Mills jumped on the Trooper’s back as the Trooper and the other subject were on the ground.
Oregon State Police Troopers assigned to conduct crowd control duties during the declared riot, encountered a group of persons refusing to disperse from the area as directed. As one Trooper attempted to take a female subject into custody, another member of the above group, later identified as Meganne Elizabeth Englich-Mills, jumped on the Trooper’s back as the Trooper and the other subject were on the ground. Additional Troopers came to the aid of the arresting officer and Englich-Mills was placed under arrest.
Meganne Elizabeth Englich-Mills made an initial appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta. Englich-Mills was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered released pending a jury trial to be held.
The Portland Police, Oregon State Police and FBI investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Peter Sax, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Vermont Man Accused of Repeatedly Assaulting Police Officers During Civil Disorder in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced September 25, 2020, that a White River Junction, Vermont man has been charged with repeatedly charging at police officers while holding a shield as officers were engaged in lawful crowd dispersal during a civil disorder event.
A federal grand jury in Portland, Oregon has returned a one-count indictment charging Charles Randolph Comfort, 24 with Civil Disorder.
According to court documents, during the late evening of June 25, 2020, a group of individuals blocked traffic on NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and NE Emerson near Portland Police Bureau’s (PPB) North Precinct. Dumpsters were taken by members of the crowd from nearby businesses and rolled into the streets and fireworks were thrown over the barricade on NE Emerson Street at the officers stationed there. An unlawful assembly was declared in the early morning hours of June 26, 2020 and PPB made repeated public address announcements telling the group to leave the area.
A PPB Rapid Response Team officer was assisting with moving the crowd that was in the middle of NE MLK Blvd and observed Charles Randolph Comfort carrying a black shield which he repeatedly used as he charged at officers as they were attempting to disperse the crowd. Upon refusing to leave the area, Comfort was placed under arrest where he actively attempted to pull away and kicked a PPB officer multiple times.
Charles Randolph Comfort made his initial appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Youlee Yim You. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered released pending a jury trial.
Portland Man Charged in June 26, 2020 Arson at Portland Police Bureau North Precinct
PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced September 16, 2020, that Gavaughn Gaquez Streeter-Hillerich, 22, has been charged by criminal complaint with two counts of using fire to maliciously damage and attempt to damage a building housing the Portland Police Bureau’s North Precinct and various private businesses on June 26, 2020.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of June 26, 2020, a group of demonstrators were present near the Portland Police Bureau’s North Precinct on NE Emerson Street in Portland. The precinct is located in a city-owned building containing multiple private businesses. Streeter-Hillerich was seen in video footage intentionally setting a large dumpster on fire near the building’s northwest exterior corner. The fire was set on top of the dumpster, which had been pushed up against plywood affixed to the building to protect windows and prevent break-ins. Officers used fire extinguishers to try and extinguish the fire before firefighters arrived.
The fire caused damage to the building and, were it allowed to spread, would have threatened the safety of 15 police personnel and four individuals in custody inside the building. Video evidence of the fire submitted by a private citizen led investigators to identify Streeter-Hillerich and bring charges in this case.
To help identify actors who are actively instigating violence in the city of Portland, the FBI is accepting tips and digital media depicting violent encounters during demonstrations
Streeter-Hillerich was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service in Vancouver, Washington on September 15, 2020. He made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was ordered released pending further court proceedings. Arson is punishable by up to 20 years in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years.
This case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the FBI with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
To help identify actors who are actively instigating violence in the city of Portland, the FBI is accepting tips and digital media depicting violent encounters during demonstrations. If you have witnessed unlawful violent actions, we urge you to submit any information, photos, or videos that could be relevant to investigations at fbi.gov/PDviolence. You may also call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) to verbally report tips.
Beaverton Woman Charged with Civil Disorder After Targeting Police Officers with High-Powered Laser
PORTLAND, Ore.—Eva Warner, aka Joshua Warner, 25, of Beaverton, Oregon, has been charged by criminal complaint with civil disorder, a felony, after targeting the eyes of multiple law enforcement officers with a high-powered laser during an August 8, 2020 riot in North Portland.
According to court documents, in the late evening on August 8, 2020, a riot was declared at the Portland Police Association office on North Lombard Street in Portland after individuals broke windows and set fire to the office. The crowd also used vehicles and dumpsters to illegally block nearby vehicle traffic.
Warner had directed a high-powered, green laser into the eyes of numerous law enforcement officers attempting to disperse the riot.
Oregon State Police officers notified the Portland Police Bureau’s Rapid Response Team that Warner had directed a high-powered, green laser into the eyes of numerous law enforcement officers attempting to disperse the riot. Warner resisted arrest, prompting officers to use force. Officers found a black, pen-style laser pointer on Warner’s person. Warner was taken into custody and later released.
On September 2, 2020, Warner was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service in a southeast Portland apartment without incident.
Warner appeared in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was released pending further court proceedings. If convicted, Warner faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
Portland Man Charged with Civil Disorder After Targeting Police Officers with High-Powered Laser
PORTLAND, Ore.—Hugo Ryan Berteau-Pavy, 26, of Portland, has been charged by criminal complaint with civil disorder, a felony, after targeting the eyes of multiple law enforcement officers with a high-powered laser during a June 13, 2020, civil disturbance in Portland.
According to court documents, at approximately 10:00 p.m. on June 13, 2020, a civil disturbance was declared when a crowd gathered around the Multnomah County Justice Center in downtown Portland. At approximately 10:50 pm, local police began to clear the crowd. A Portland Police Bureau officer watching the crowd from the roof of the Justice Center observed two individuals, one later identified at Berteau-Pavy, standing in the middle of the street and repeatedly hitting several officers in the face with high-powered lasers.
The officer moved to a lower floor and was able to photograph Berteau-Pavy.
The officer moved to a lower floor and was able to photograph Berteau-Pavy. The officer kept track of Berteau-Pavy as the crowd was dispersed. In the early morning hours of June 14, 2020, Berteau-Pavy joined a group of individuals marching from the Justice Center to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s personal residence. Berteau-Pavy was observed shining a laser at the Mayor’s residence and at other homes in the neighborhood. The officer who originally spotted Berteau-Pavy with the laser, tracked his location until Berteau-Pavy was contacted by other officers and taken into custody. Berteau-Pavy was later released by state authorities.
On September 2, 2020, FBI agents arrested Berteau-Pavy at his residence in southwest Portland without incident.
Berteau-Pavy made his first appearance in federal court on September 3, 2020, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was released pending further court proceedings. If convicted, Berteau-Pavy faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.