DA Drops Charges On Ten Portland Rioters, Including Two Unlawfully Carrying Firearms

Officers and deputies from the ballyhooed Unified Command arrested twelve particular individuals associated with post election night riots in Portland. The terrorists weren’t concerned so much with the Presidential election, but rather vichy “mayor” Ted Wheeler’s reelection.

From the official Multnomah County Sheriff’s press release:

Shortly after, a group of about 100 people began walking from the Skidmore Fountain through Downtown Portland, along West Burnside Street, breaking out windows as they moved. As police responded and ordered people to leave, individuals continued leaving a trail of damage. The ongoing criminal activity by such a large group of people created a significant risk to public safety. Unified Command declared the gathering a riot and gave repeated loudspeaker announcements that the crowd was directed to stop their criminal activity and leave. Those announcements were repeated at least five times over loudspeakers near the crowd.

People began throwing projectiles, including a firework, at police officers; (this was initially reported as a Molotov cocktail. After further investigation, it was determined to be a firework). Individuals broke out dozens of windows to businesses and damaged other private property downtown. Police officers identified the suspect who threw the firework and sheriff’s deputies arrested him nearby. The man is identified as William K. Beecher, 23, was armed with a loaded rifle and was in possession of several loaded magazines, a knife and other fireworks (photos). Beecher was also wearing a ballistics vest.

In the interest of public safety, Governor Kate Brown, under advice of the Unified Command, activated the use of the Oregon National Guard to assist officers in responding to acts of violence, and to maintain public order and ensure community safety.

An hour later, about 100 people left and began walking north. Police responded to prevent the group from reaching W. Burnside Street where they had damaged property earlier in the evening. Police provided announcements over a loudspeaker that the group was not to cross W. Burnside Street and that people who engage in criminal acts are subject to arrest and/or the use of force including munitions and CS gas.

This announcement was met with aggressive actions by participants. Individuals again threw glass bottles at police and blocked vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Police announced to the crowd that the assembly was unlawful and needed to disperse.

At about 11:15 p.m., Oregon State Police troopers stopped a vehicle without license plates that was interfering with traffic. They discovered the driver had a handgun and arrested him. Wesley C. Fant was booked on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm (photo).

A follow up press release identified twelve particular individuals who were arrested:

Twelve people were arrested for various crimes during a riot on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 in Downtown Portland. The following are those booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center:

• Wyatt Dylan Scully, 19, from Portland, charged with Trespass II

• Tanner Nokoa Alcorn, 29, from Portland, charged with Trespass II

• Jason Mercury Tyler, 22, from Beaverton, charged with Trespass II

• Jarrod Deferrari, 23, from Sunrise, Florida, charged with Riot, Disorderly Conduct I, Criminal Mischief I, Sale/Possession of Fireworks, Burglary II, Attempt Arson II

• Leslie Johnson, 25, charged with Trespass II

• Ian Wyatt Harrington, 25, from Portland, charged with Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct II

• James Christopher Saraceno, 49, from Portland, charged with Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct II, Reckless Burning, Riot

• Michael Tyler Ream, 38, from Portland, charged with Resisting Arrest, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct II

• Ashley Schofield, 36, from Portland, charged with Interfering with a Peace Officer, Resisting Arrest, Harassment

• William Kahl Beecher, 23, from Oregon City, charged with Possession of Loaded Firearm, Riot, Disorderly Conduct II

• Sherlock Ortiz, 23, from Portland, charged with Criminal Mischief I

• Wesley C. Fant, 29, from Portland, charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

Loaded rifle seized in arrest. Deputies arrested a man believed to have thrown a Molotov cocktail at PPB officers. Deps. seized a rifle w/ a full magazine. They also recovered add'l magazines, commercial grade fireworks, a knife & spray paint cans. Arrest info to come later. pic.twitter.com/8kERARSSQw

— Multnomah Co Sheriff (@MultCoSO) November 5, 2020

Predictably, Multnomah county district attorney Mike Schmidt dropped charges on ten of them on Thursday, including Fant and Beecher. The city of Portland and county of Multnomah both have “codes” that prohibit carrying a loaded firearm without a Concealed Handgun License, though many say that the code will eventually be struck down if someone charged with violating it takes it to higher courts.

Willamette Week reports:

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Beecher and booked him in the Multnomah County Jail after 11 pm on Wednesday on charges of riot, disorderly conduct and possession of a loaded firearm, jail records show.

Beecher, a West Linn resident, posted $900 bail and was released from jail on Thursday, according to court records. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute Beecher on any charges and referred his case back to law enforcement for further investigation.

In total, law enforcement referred 13 cases to the DA’s office stemming from Wednesday night protests.

Of those 13, five were felonies and eight were misdemeanors. DeFerrari, Harrah and Beecher accounted for three of those felony cases. Prosecutors declined to pursue charges in the other two felony cases and referred them back to the arresting agency for investigative follow-up.

The post DA Drops Charges On Ten Portland Rioters, Including Two Unlawfully Carrying Firearms appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.