Three Officers Injured As Riot Declared in Portland After Antifa Sets Police Union Building On Fire

Police said three officers were injured when they tried to disperse a crowd that set the police union building in Portland, Oregon on fire last night, leading police to declare a riot and order the area cleared.

Breaking: Portland Police declared a riot. #Antifa broke inside the union hall and set the inside on fire. This is the third time they’ve broken into the police union and the second time they set fire inside. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/wC2gKhzLcL

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 9, 2020

Kathleen M. Mahoney, 43, is another Portland attorney arrested at an #antifa riot. She's charged w/attempt to assault an officer, resisting arrest & more. She's a self-described "neutral observer" w/@ACLU_OR who is already suing Portland Police. https://t.co/9zKS0JrOw4 pic.twitter.com/uoV3TdsV5k

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 9, 2020

Kyle Roach, 28, was arrested & charged in relation to the #antifa riot in north Portland where the police union hall was set on fire. #PortlandRiots https://t.co/olNP8erqI2 pic.twitter.com/udV8HkM8hO

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 9, 2020

Riley Isley Harris, formerly known as Timothy Michael Harris, is charged w/multiple offenses in relation to the #antifa riot in north Portland. The 31-year-old transsexual was previously charged w/felony assault at another violent protest last month. https://t.co/HrFXm4V0aa pic.twitter.com/nrrVcRV13U

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 9, 2020

Federal agents left the city at the end of July after weeks of violent clashes between them and protesters. Although local leaders had hoped for calm, Antifa in the city have continued to accelerate the violence.

From CBS:

According to police, the group was warned around 10:30 p.m. to “not engage in criminal activities” and disperse. “People within the crowd committed crimes when they erected a fence, pushed dumpsters into the street to block traffic, set a dumpster on fire, vandalized the PPA office with spray paint, and destroyed security cameras,” police said in a release.

At 11:35 p.m., people within the crowd broke the window of the police union offices, entered the building and then lit a fire, “committing the crimes of criminal mischief, burglary, and attempted arson,” police said. A riot was then declared and all people assembled were ordered to leave, including members of the media and legal observers. 

Officers from the Oregon State Police and the Portland police tried to break up the crowd. But three officers were injured as police said the crowd started throwing bottles and paint balloons, as well as shining green laser lights, which is a crime in Oregon.

Police said that they were then able to get around the barricade that had been created and pushed the crowd back. Police estimated there were about 300 people in the crowd at that point.

Just after 1 a.m., police declared Kenton Park closed and their presence was considered “riotous.” The crowd dispersed by about 2 a.m., police said.