On October 4th, 2020, the Bend Police Department provided a press release regarding the incident that occurred at the Pilot Butte Neighborhood Park on October 3rd, 2020, involving conflicts between two groups identifying as different ideologies. During the incident, there were several acts of conduct that required follow up investigations to determine if crimes occurred.
The Bend Police Department assembled a team of 5 members who spent over 400 hours of personnel time to review all of the available evidence, reports and statements from the events that day.
After review, on October 20th, 2020, members of the Bend Police Department investigative team met with the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office to present the investigative material for their formal review and determination of formal criminal charges.
The Bend Police Department presented cases on 15 people to the District Attorney’s Office for potential criminal charges. The following charges were requested to be considered by the District Attorney;
Male adult – Theft III, Disorderly Conduct II
Male adult – Riot, Disorderly Conduct II
Male adult – Riot, Disorderly Conduct II, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Use of an Electrical Stun Gun.
Male adult – Riot, Disorderly Conduct II 2 counts, Assault IV 3 counts, Harassment.
Male adult – Riot, Unlawful Use of Mace
Female adult – Riot, Unlawful Use of Mace 2 counts, Interfering with a Police Officer 2 counts, Harassment 2 counts, Disorderly Conduct
Male adult – Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing 2 counts
Male adult – Riot, Unlawful Use of Mace 2 counts
Male adult - Riot, Assault IV, Disorderly Conduct II, Harassment
Female adult – Interfering with a Police Officer 3 counts, Harassment 3 counts
Female adult – Unlawful Use of an Electrical Stun Gun, Disorderly Conduct II, Harassment, Interfering with a Police Officer 3 counts, Theft III
Female adult – Interfering with a Police Officer 2 counts, Harassment 2 counts, Disorderly Conduct II
Female adult – Harassment 2 counts, Interfering with a Police Officer 2 counts, Theft III
Male adult – Harassment
Female adult – Interfering with a Police Officer
Additionally, on October 4, 2020, a group of people held a protest event at the Bend Police Department. During this incident some of the individuals engaged in blocking traffic for periods of time on Hwy 20, in front of the Bend Police Department, holding traffic and causing significant delays. The evidence was reviewed for this incident and the Bend Police Department has also forwarded the investigation to the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office for review and decisions on formal criminal charging.
Seven individuals were presented with the following charges;
Female adult – Disorderly Conduct II
Female adult – Disorderly Conduct II
Female adult – Disorderly Conduct II, Criminal Trespass II
Female adult – Disorderly Conduct II
Female adult – Disorderly Conduct II
Male adult – Disorderly Conduct II
Male adult – Disorderly Conduct II
The Bend Police Department will continue to evaluate all events that fall under First Amendment protections. However, rights to free speech do not include engaging in behavior that is defined as a crime under Oregon, federal or local law, and we will work to ensure that people who engage in criminal behavior will be held accountable. We will thoroughly investigate alleged criminal conduct and when appropriate forward those investigations to the District Attorney’s Office for charging decisions.
Submitted by: Lt. Juli McConkey