Portland Protest Erupts in Violence After Flare Sparks Fire at ICE Building

PORTLAND, Ore. — Members of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) arrested three people at a protest outside the ICE Facility in the South Portland Neighborhood on Wednesday after a lit flare was placed against the building.

As PPB was monitoring a protest in the area, they noticed a man stacking flammable material against the ICE building at 9:50 p.m.

This was followed by another man walking up to the stack and placing a lit flare on the material, which ignited a fire. A person in the building extinguished the fire before it caused any significant damage.

PPB officers moved in at 10:44 p.m. and arrested the two reckless burning suspects. A female suspect, who punched and tried to choke a police officer, was also arrested. The officer was not seriously hurt.

Police also reported that a pole had been placed against the main lobby entrance to the building, potentially creating a life safety issue caused by the blockage. PPB officers moved the pole, and once the suspects had been removed from the scene and no further criminal activity was observed, PPB left.

PPB confirmed that they focused on criminal actions, not constitutionally protected free speech. The agency does not engage in immigration enforcement in accordance with PPB Directive 810.10, and the public is again directed to refer to Chief Day’s letter regarding immigration, published earlier this year.

PPB arrested the following people, all from Portland, who were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on criminal charges:

• Trenton E. Barker, 34:  Reckless Burning
• Austin J. Deever, 25: Reckless Burning and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree
• Geovanna Carrasco, 27: Assaulting a Public Safety Officer (2 counts)