Police lined up near the Oregon State Capitol on Sunday, March 28 after declaring an unlawful assembly. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter)
12:20 p.m. This story was updated with an additional arrest reported by Oregon State Police.
Police arrested four people after a Sunday event in which a crowd of left-wing protesters clashed with a small right-wing convoy that traveled to the Oregon State Capitol.
About 150 people dressed in all black, some carrying shields, paintball guns and gas masks stood on both sides of Court Street in front of the Capitol around noon to prevent a “Freedom Rally” caravan from meeting at the Capitol.
Some members of the left-wing group, organized by Fascist Free 503, threw paint-filled balloons and rocks at trucks with the caravan passing by. A rock shattered the driver’s side window of one truck, according to Twitter footage from a Portland Tribune reporter.
One man pointed a gun at left-wing protesters after they vandalized his truck. He was quickly detained by police but released after police determined him to be a victim because he was pepper sprayed by protesters, according to Salem police spokeswoman Debbie Aguilar. Oregon State Police said the man had a concealed carry license.
Sunday’s event was the first conflict at the Capitol since a Jan. 6 event in which a chaotic scene erupted as demonstrators threw smoke canisters, fireworks and assaulted people.
Around 3:40 p.m. Salem police declared the event an unlawful assembly and formed a line with Oregon State Police on Court Street and in front of the Capitol, shutting down a portion of Court Street.
Police began to move forward into the Oregon State Capitol State Park and the left-wing crowd fell back. Police left the Capitol just before 4 p.m.
Salem police said they used “less-than-lethal” rounds to arrest to suspects, according to a news release.
Andrew Alan Foy, 34, of Portland, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree disorderly conduct and second-degree criminal trespass. Nathan McFarland, 33, of Salem, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree disorderly conduct and Anthony Villaneda, 18, was arrested on suspicion of five counts of unlawful laser pointing. William, Lloyd Isham, 34, was arrested on suspicion of interfering with a police officer.
Have a tip? Contact reporter Saphara Harrell at 503-549-6250, [email protected].
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