13 arrested after police, protesters face off at North Portland house

KATU Staff

Tuesday, 8 December 2020

PORTLAND, OR—At least 13 people were arrested on Tuesday as protesters and police clashed over an eviction at a North Portland home.

Police said people nearby gathered as contractors attempted to fence the private property on N. Mississippi Avenue. The occupants of the home had been previously ordered removed by a court order.

According to Portland Police and video at the scene, objects such as rocks were thrown at officers.

When police left the scene, they say the protesters removed the fencing and trespassing on the private property.

Portland Police returned and attempted to disperse people from the property, however, people began throwing objects at police vehicles and officers, broke police vehicle windows and flattened tires on two police vehicles. Officers disengaged and people entered the private property again, police said in a statement.

KATU crews at the scene witnessed the protesters use the fencing that had been installed to block N. Mississippi Avenue.

In a series of tweets Tuesday night, Mayor Ted Wheeler said the occupation of the home is illegal.

I am authorizing the Portland Police to use all lawful means to end the illegal occupation on North Mississippi Avenue and to hold those violating our community’s laws accountable. There will be no autonomous zone in Portland, he tweeted.

At the same time, the mayor said he recognized the racism and disparities inherent in the system, and the crises, including housing, employment, health care and mental health, disproportionately impact Black people.

It’s time for the encampment and occupation to end, Wheeler wrote. There are many ways to protest and work toward reform. Illegally occupying private property, openly carrying weapons, threatening and intimidating people are not among them.

According to Multnomah County deputies, the Multnomah County Circuit Court had issued a writ of execution for an eviction at the address in February 2020. Deputies said the judgment was issued prior to state and federal emergency moratoriums.

On September 9, Multnomah County deputies served the court order to people living at the address. Deputies said they provided them time to gather their things and offered housing and shelter options, along with other additional resources.

Since then, police said people have gathered on the property by trespassing on the home’s front and backyards, and camping on adjacent privately owned and city-owned properties.

Neighbors had also reported significant livability, public safety and public health concerns.

From September 1 to November 30, 2020, at least 81 calls for service were placed for issues related to this property and the immediate area, police said. Calls for service included, but were not limited to, fights, disturbances, shots fired, burglary, thefts, vandalism, noise violations, trespassing, threats, including by armed individuals, and for illegally blocking traffic, sidewalks and access to homes.

On Tuesday, officers secured a perimeter by blocking streets and sidewalks surrounding these properties in order to limit access and help ensure the safety of community members as well as police.

Officers were able to contact other people on the properties and safely secure it within a few minutes. Police said officers also recovered firearms on the property.

Police said several people were arrested for trespassing, and others face more charges.

Original article with video courtesy of Alex Milan Tracy.

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