‘Riot’ & ‘Harassment’ Among Charges Portland DA Will Stop Prosecuting

Eric Scheiner | August 12, 2020
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While some states have fined church-goers $500 for violating social distancing guidelines, many arrested rioters in Portland will not be prosecuted for their ordinance violations.

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced his office won't prosecute Portland rioters arrested for ordinance violations that don't include property damage, theft or the use or threat of force against another person.

According to KGW-TV, the list of charges that will not be prosecuted includes:

  • Interfering with a peace officer 
  • Disorderly conduct in the second degree
  • Criminal trespass in the first and second degree
  • Harassment
  • Riot (unless accompanied by a charge outside of this list)

 

 

The new policy applies to protests that started May 29.

More than 550 people have been arrested in the protests, as many as 400 of those charges may be dismissed, according to officials.

Under the policy, certain “protesting activities,” like resisting arrest, need to be given special consideration.

According to the policy:

Any charge of resisting arrest that arises from protesting activity should be subjected to a high level of scrutiny by the issuing deputy. Consideration should be given to the chaos of a protesting environment…

KGW reports: 

Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell, who was told of the policy change on Friday, said it doesn't change Oregon law and still holds accountable people who commit violent acts or intentionally damage property.

“Committing a crime is different from demonstrating,” Lovell said in a statement. “The arrests we make often come after hours of damage to private property, disruption of public transit and traffic on public streets, thefts from small businesses, arson, burglary, attacks on members of the community, and attacks against police officers.”

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