Federal prosecutors in Portland, Oregon, said Tuesday that four protesters went before a judge after the quartet was charged with attacking police officers and spraying graffiti during an Independence Day protest outside the city’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon said the defendants, with faces covered, participated in constant anti-ICE demonstrations over the past month while hurling bricks and shooting pepper spray at security officers.
According to court documents, Andrew Marcum, 22, last Friday night ran up behind a federal security officer and tripped him as the officer chased an instigator spraying graffiti on the building.
Authorities said another agent came and tackled Mr. Marcum to the ground, where the defendant then kicked the agent multiple times as he was being arrested. Mr. Marcum faces charges of assaulting a police officer.
Prosecutors said Jeremy Hummel, 27, was spotted about 40 minutes later tagging the side of the ICE building with graffiti that said, “Pigs we got the guillotine.”
Security officers arrested Mr. Hummel near the building. He faces charges of ravaging government property.
Prosecutors said federal officers were clearing a group of people from the property at about 11:15 p.m. when Riley Freeman, 26, threw an incendiary device that exploded near law enforcement.
Freeman tried to run away but was tracked down by officers, police said. He is charged with assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon and possession of an unregistered destructive device.
Shortly after Mr. Freeman was arrested, prosecutors said Ian McCarthy used bolt cutters to try and break the card reader to enter the ICE building.
Authorities stated that the 35-year-old suspect also severed internet and communication services to the facility by damaging its fiber-optic cable system.
Agents took Mr. McCarthy into custody before he could flee, but the suspect was accused of kicking and punching officers while being arrested. Prosecutors charged him with assaulting a federal officer and plundering government property.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said 22 people have been charged since June 13 with riot-related crimes during anti-ICE demonstrations, including arson, assaulting federal officers, possession of a destructive device and defacing government property.
