Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, the prosecutor overseeing Portland, Oregon, filed charges this week against 13 people for alleged crimes committed during violent protests that have plagued the city nightly since May 28.
Several of those charged are accused of committing crimes in early July.
Laurielle Aviles, 28, is accused of trying to make a so-called de-arrest, or trying to free a person who was being taken into police custody, on July 3. When the officer wouldn’t release the person from custody, Aviles punched the officer in the face, according to court documents.
Randal Marcus McCorkle, 31, is accused of launching a mortar at police officers during a riot on July 4. He was charged with felony riot, unlawful use of a weapon, and recklessly endangering another person.
Krystyna Mihalovna Solodenko, 31, also was charged with felony riot, among other charges, after allegedly throwing a shield that hit the shoulder of a police officer the same day. She also allegedly kicked an officer in the legs.
The others charged allegedly committed crimes this month.
Brian Scherner, 26, is accused of pushing a female police officer who was arresting another person on Sept. 4. Hannah Baumann, 25, allegedly hit and kicked an officer trying to arrest somebody else during the same riot. The same day, Maurice “Reese” Monson is accused of refusing to leave the street when law enforcement was dispersing the riot from outside the offices of the police union. Police found Monson, 30, to be wearing body armor, which was prohibited because of a prior robbery conviction.
Elizabeth Elder, 27, is accused of trying to injure someone she knew to be a police officer during a riot the next day. Also on Sept. 5, Evan Burchfield, 34, threw a wooden shield at a police officer who stood about two feet away, before running away, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. And officers said they found a loaded pistol inside the vehicle of Demetrius Batchelo, a 34-year-old convicted felon, who was driving near a riot that day.
Enzo Zimmerman, 18, allegedly shoved the right arm and twisted the elbow of a police officer who was trying to arrest someone else during mayhem overnight Sept. 5. When an officer tried taking Zimmerman into custody, he tried to hit and kick the arresting officer, police said.
Ty Fox, 23, allegedly used a torch and lit an incendiary device before launching the device on Sept. 6 at Oregon state troopers. Jawad Fakhuri, 35, is accused of hurling a glass bottle toward police during the riot, according to court documents.
Adam Layee, 36, was charged after allegedly setting a mattress on fire in the street on Sept. 6. The fire was lit during a burn ban and near dry brush, houses, and stores.
Last week, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced charges of assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful directing of light from a laser pointer against Bryan Kelley, 36. Prosecutors said Kelley shined a laser into the eyes of police officers during a riot overnight Aug. 25, during which rioters targeted the Portland City Hall.
When officers arrested Kelley, they allegedly found a blue laser in his back pocket. Law enforcement found the laser was so powerful that it could burn through paper and cause dry material to catch fire, according to court documents.
“When a laser pointer is used as a weapon, as alleged in this case, we will continue to take appropriate legal action,” Schmidt said in a statement.
The FBI, meanwhile, recently stepped up efforts to investigate crimes committed during riots.
Federal officials have increasingly targeted the rioters as local officials fail to quell the unrest, which takes place nearly every night.
