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News Release
[VIDEO] DA Mike Schmidt releases video statement, community update on recent riot charges - 04/22/21

April 21, 2021

DA Mike Schmidt releases video statement, community update on recent riot charges

PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt released a video statement and community update on the riot charges filed that are associated with recent property damage.

District Attorney Mike Schmidt said in part:

“The violence and property destruction we’ve seen in Portland for nearly 11 months now is unacceptable.  These harmful and criminal acts do not align with our community values. The First Amendment gives everyone the right to gather and to voice their opinions—whether we agree or overwhelmingly rebuke those beliefs. As District Attorney, I will always defend a person’s right to free speech, but I will not defend nor support anyone who knowingly, recklessly or intentionally destroys property or engages in violence.”

“My office continues to prioritize the prosecution of people who are destroying property and committing violence—and this is nothing new. This is what we’ve been doing since I took office. That was my instruction to my deputies on day one: focus on, work with law enforcement and prosecute the people who are starting fires, who are destroying windows and who are committing assaults.”

“Recently, we have seen a positive shift from law enforcement making targeted arrests on the people who are accused of starting fires, destroying windows and committing assaults. I want to thank our local law enforcement for prioritizing these cases. These targeted arrests are important; they allow us to focus our limited resources on the people causing the most harm, and it will ensure that people demonstrating without violence are protected.”

To download a copy of the District Attorney’s remarks, please click here.

Additionally, District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced today the filing of a new criminal case against Theodore Matthee-O’Brien.

Matthee-O’Brien is charged with two counts of Criminal Mischief in the First Degree and one count of felony Riot.

On April 19, 2021 the State filed one count of criminal mischief in the first degree and one count of felony riot against Matthee-O’Brien for conduct that occurred on April 16, 2021 when Matthee-O’Brien allegedly damaged windows at the Oregon Historical Society. For more information on that case, please click here.

This week, the Portland Police Bureau’s Central Precinct Neighborhood Response Team reviewed security videos from Nordstrom, located at 701 Southwest Broadway, and the U.S. Bancorp Tower, located at 111 Southwest 5th Avenue. Both locations had windows damaged during the riot on April 16, 2021.

According to court documents, the videos obtained by Portland Police show Matthee-O'Brien smashing windows at Nordstrom and the U.S. Bancorp Tower on April 16, 2021. The videos show Matthee-O'Brien acting in concert with five or more people engaged in tumultuous and violent behavior, creating the grave risk of public alarm.

The damage to Nordstrom and the U.S. Bancorp is estimated to be over $10,000 at each location.

No additional information can be released by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office at this time.

A charging document is only an accusation of a crime. Matthee-O'Brien is innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

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Media Contact:

Brent Weisberg, Communications Director

Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office

Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us

View more news releases from Multnomah Co. District Attorney's Office.