Portland, OR. — The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) arrested two men Saturday night during protest activity near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in the South Waterfront area, bringing the total number of arrests in the area to 49 since demonstrations began in early June.
Police said they activated an Incident Command Team to manage the event, which included Dialogue Liaison Officers (DLOs), the Rapid Response Team (RRT), Air Support Unit, and a PPB Sound Truck. DLOs, wearing white shirts, serve as communication links between police and demonstrators and are not involved in enforcement.
According to the bureau, officers were alerted by participants that a man had been assaulted near South Bancroft Street and South Bond Avenue. Emergency medical services were called, and the injured man was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators identified Harold Alston Smith, 32, of Portland, as a suspect and arrested him on a charge of Assault in the Fourth Degree. The victim, Brian Wesley Crowell-Drogt, 33, of Beaverton, was also cited for Assault in the Fourth Degree in connection with the incident. Because he remained hospitalized, he was issued a criminal citation, which carries the same legal obligation as an arrest and requires a court appearance within 30 days.
The bureau noted that while it does not engage in immigration enforcement, in accordance with Directive 810.10, officers are responsible for maintaining public safety and enforcing Oregon law.
PPB expressed appreciation for assistance from Portland Fire & Rescue and the Oregon State Police during the response.
Police said they will continue to monitor ongoing protest activity and will investigate criminal acts as they occur or through follow-up investigations. “Just because arrests are not made at the scene, when tensions are high, that does not mean that people are not being charged with crimes later,” the bureau stated.
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