Portland police announced the arrest of the man suspected of throwing burning road flares into both a downtown Target store and a heavily damaged Portland police vehicle during a protest turned riot.
Damion Zachary Feller, 22, was arrested following a review of video footage and community tips. The rally and march is an annual event celebrating International Workers’ Day. Marches took place in cities across the nation.
Feller was arrested at Southwest Park Avenue and Stark Street and booked at Multnomah County Jail on charges of arson in the first degree, second degree, and rioting.
“I saw that online, and I knew I was (expletive),” Feller told authorities when they showed him a photograph of the moment he threw the flare. The young man admitted to throwing the flare, telling police that he fell victim to the “mob mentality” of the protest.
Authorities also arrested 25 people for various charges, including disorderly conduct, riot, arson, vandalism, theft, and assault.
Many of those riotings were in all-black clothing, faces covered, part of a separate protest organized by the Anarchist Student Union.
The case against Feller was strong: A local TV station aired live footage of him hurling a flare through a shattered picture window at Target, prompting employees to run with fire extinguishers to put out a burning section of carpet. TV and cellphone cameras also caught Feller throwing a flare through the shattered window of a battered police SUV parked across the street from Target, at Southwest 10th Avenue and Morrison.
Police identified Feller as among a group of unruly people who descended on downtown as peaceful protesters spoke about a variety of social issues.
Although the amount Feller will have to pay in restitution hasn’t been finalized, investigators believe it will be about $12,000.
Feller also was charged in federal court, but he will receive no more prison time as part of a global plea deal.
According to Opposing Views, many readers called for the man to receive a longer sentence for his actions.
“He knew [exactly] what he was doing. Take off their masks and they are little whinny boys and girls. Not [martyrs]…just punks. He said he was homeless with nothing else to do, except maybe…look for a job,” one reader commented on Facebook in response to the story.
“It’s a start but not hardly enough! He should have gotten at least ten years and community service! We need to start cracking down on these violent protesters,” another wrote.
“It’s just a shame that there can not be a better punishment than the life of Riley in jail for these cupcakes. I’m of the mind that these people should be made to WORK OFF THE COST OF THE DAMAGE THEY CAUSE in some [manner],” another added.
“How about his actions and the resulting consequences were a direct result of poor choices he consciously made and nothing else,” another reader commented.
Sources: OpposingViews, The Oregonian
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