New Portland PD Tactic On Sunday Night -- Arrest Early, Go Home Early

AP featured image — A Department of Homeland Security officer stands watch as fellow officers extinguish a fire lit by protesters behind the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse on Sun, Aug. 2, 2020, in Portland, Ore. Following an agreement between Democratic Gov. Kate Brown and the Trump administration to reduce federal officers in the city, nightly protests remained largely peaceful without major confrontations between protesters and officers. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

The common sequence of events with Portland riots has been to let “protesters” have their way during the late evening hours, wait for the Antifa/BLM agitators to move to the front later in the evening, watch for them to commit acts of violence or set fires, declare an unlawful assembly, and then clear the streets and make arrests for anyone who refuses to comply.

Often times the “Third Act” doesn’t start until midnight or later, and by the time the crowd is gone and the paperwork is done, it’s deep into the early morning hours.

Mayor Ted Wheeler must have received the overtime bill for August today because it seems like Portland Police decided to get an earlier start on the Third Act tonight. There was very little of the warm up festivities, with Portland Police going quickly “unlawful assembly” and then mass arrests.

Here are some videos rolling in on Twitter.

Crowds have just arrived at the Kelly Penumbra Building. The Portland Police gave a garbled warning over the LRAD telling protesters to stay off the building property. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/ME9tXZMYcn

— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) August 31, 2020

Deputies of the MCSO are currently a block away from the protest area towing cars. Witnesses tell me they have been slashing tires. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/9dO2znEQeW

— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) August 31, 2020

This was before 10:45 local time.

Portland Police has just declared the gathering as an illegal assembly. Crowds are ordered to disperse to the West. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/l8l2JhpKfA

— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) August 31, 2020

Officers used flashlights to identify protesters standing on the sidewalk, making more arrests. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/0S8W4xkGWf

— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) August 31, 2020

OSP Troopers and PPB officers rushed out to disperse crowds, using impact munitions & pepperballs. They made a series of arrests. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/cm0pfG1mmy

— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) August 31, 2020

PPB officers and OSP troopers carried another dispersal enforcement action, pushing crowds two blocks South. They made several arrests. #PortlandProtests #pdxprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/RQtKrmie43

— Justin Yau (@PDocumentarians) August 31, 2020

An officer declares “half this group isn’t press!” and then proceeds to arrest every person not clearly identified as press. pic.twitter.com/wx6QsEZqV1

— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith) August 31, 2020

Portland pic.twitter.com/iQvwML60Ug

— Maria Viti Teleporter Extraordinar (@selfdeclaredref) August 31, 2020

After all the arrests, the crowd is much smaller. pic.twitter.com/wKB6DL2Y3Q

— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) August 31, 2020

After all the arrests, the crowd was much smaller….. genius. This is as of 11:00 pm. They should try this more often.

Police are back out to make more arrests. They almost outnumber protesters at this point pic.twitter.com/NWBdbuUaBB

— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) August 31, 2020

Interesting to see that Oregon State Police has a big crew out here. The governor announced today that they'd be supporting Portland police, which said it had constrained resources. pic.twitter.com/ft8pYWpmAA

— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) August 31, 2020

Done early, home at a reasonable hour.

That is smart riot control.