A person with ties to Kelso was arrested for allegedly assaulting a federal officer outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building on Wednesday in Portland.
According to a partially redacted federal affidavit, Samuel Tate Berry, 29 — who previously lived in Kelso, Gearhart and Seaside — was arrested for assaulting a Customs and Border Protection agent over the head with a shield, as well as resisting arrest by a Federal Protective Service inspector.
The affidavit says protesters forced their way past the office’s gates after officers let in authorized vehicles.
A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon states five other people were also detained during the incident. All six have made their first appearances in court and were released while they await future hearings.
What happened?
For the past two weeks, protesters have assembled outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland to protest President Donald Trump’s raids targeting migrants living in or entering a country illegally.
At about 6:38 p.m. Wednesday, federal officers opened the gates for six official vehicles to arrive at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building, located at 4310 SW Macadam Ave. in Portland, near a Tesla dealership.
Using a bullhorn, federal officers told the crowd to remain on the sidewalk and warned that anyone could be arrested for trespassing on federal property.
At that time, a crowd of people — wearing masks, goggles and holding shields — were lined up in the driveway of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.
After the gate opened, federal officers moved towards the crowd to make room for the arriving vehicles. The affidavit states protesters dispersed, but a few with shields pushed against the officers or stood their ground; it is during that encounter that Berry allegedly struck a federal officer with a shield.
Some of the demonstrators in Portland are described as wearing all black, who are commonly referred to as “black bloc,” who damage property, whether that be personal or government. The same document also states some demonstrators threw items at the federal building, at officers and even used pepper spray.
Demonstrators have been harassing clients and employees of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement by following them with cameras, saying disparaging or even threatening statements, the document continues.
Elizabeth Gillingham Daily, of the Office of the Federal Public Defender, is representing Berry, who was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a federal officer, a class a misdemeanor, and failure to comply with official signs and directions.
Berry’s next hearing is set for July 17 in Portland before a magistrate judge.
The affidavit refers to Berry as she, who was once known as Scarlett Armana.
