Raps are Ore-gone
Portland’s DA won’t charge most arrested
Most of the Portland, Ore., protesters arrested during two months of clashes with law enforcement won’t be prosecuted, the district attorney says.
A policy change announced by Multnomah County DA Mike Schmidt will likely lead to no charges for “hundreds of ” the 550 people arrested since May 29, a spokesman told The Post.
Schmidt’s office will “presumptively decline” to prosecute cases that don’t fit his criteria, including interfering with a peace, parole or probation officer; second-degree disorderly conduct; first- or second-degree criminal trespass; third-degree escape; and harassment.
Rioting charges will also not be prosecuted unless accompanied by another crime not included in the list, Schmidt said.
“Violent crimes, arsons and intentional-property-damage cases will still be prosecuted,” spokesman Brent Weisberg said.
Portland cops have referred 550 cases to the DA’s office since protests began in the city four days after George Floyd’s May 25 death at the hands of Minneapolis police.
Of those, about 140 were felony crimes, including assault, arson, riot and theft.
Prosecutors are moving ahead in only about 45 of those cases, while the remainder were dropped or are deemed to be under review, Weisberg said.
Meanwhile, the Rose City protests continued for the 76th straight day late Tuesday and early Wednesday, but with no arrests, police said.
One group of protesters blocked traffic in downtown Portland for several hours, but the “gathering was peaceful” and officers did not have to interact with the crowd, police said in a statement on Wednesday.
A separate group of several hundred people gathered late Tuesday at Laurelhurst Park before marching to the Penumbra Kelly Building, which is shared by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and Portland police, local TV station KOIN reported.
The group blocked traffic for several hours near the law-enforcement facility before a few protesters “entered upon” the property, police said.
“Once again, Portland police began making public-address announcements reminding the crowd they were to remain off of the property or they would be subject to arrest,” police said in a statement. “The group members left the property after hearing the announcement.”
The peaceful demonstrations were a departure from violent protests against Portland cops, who were peppered with such dangerous objects as ball bearings, golf balls and potatoes as recently as Monday.
Previous protests have also included lit fireworks tossed at police and fires set by demonstrators.