Portland’s entire riot squad has resigned in protest after one of their colleagues was indicted for striking an ‘activist photographer’ who they claim was actually part of the riots last August:
DAILY MAIL – Portland’s 50-person riot squad resigned in protest Wednesday in solidarity with one of their colleagues indicted for striking a photographer they claim was a rioter.
The resignations were effective immediately, according to the Portland Police Bureau, and come after the indictment on Tuesday of Officer Corey Budworth, for assault during and incident in which he allegedly struck photographer Teri Jacobs in the head during a riot last August.
‘Unfortunately, this decorated public servant has been caught in the crossfire of agenda-driven city leaders and a politicized criminal justice system,’ the Portland Police Association said in a statement Tuesday.
Video of the incident was shared on social media, in which Budworth appears to push the photographer, who has been identified as Jacobs, an activist, and then striking her in the head with his baton.
Jacobs says she was attacked despite carrying a press card. She was not charged with any crime, and received a $50,000 settlement from the City of Portland as a result of the baton strike. Cops have continued to insist she was part of a riot which set the a government building alight with a petrol bomb.
The officers from the Rapid Response Team, which is equipped to handle riots, will remain employed in the Portland Police Department, the PPB said, but would no longer be a part of the team.
It is not clear how the resignation’s would affect the department’s effectiveness during riots, with the Oregon city experiencing nightly unrest in its downtown district for the last year.
Here’s how the police union describes what happened in the incident with Jacobs:
‘Under the cover of darkness, a group of 200 demonstrators, many equipped with tactical helmets, faces covered, and armed with a variety of weapons, sparked a night of violence. Multiple dumpsters were set on fire, buildings were defaced, and windows were broken.’ the Portland Police Association said, giving its version of the events of Aug. 18 when the assault allegedly occurred.
Eventually, the event escalated and was declared a riot.
‘After nearly 75 consecutive nights of violence, destruction, and mayhem, a small group of RRT (Rapid Response Team) officers—including Officer Budworth—were again tasked with dealing with the riot,’ the description continued. ‘Per PPB Command Staff orders, RRT officers cleared the rioters from the area to allow the Fire Bureau to extinguish the blaze. But the rioters were not satisfied.’
‘RRT was again deployed to disperse the crowd and prevent any further violence and criminal activity. A confrontation then ensued. As RRT officers worked to clear the rioting crowd, Officer Budworth was forcefully knocked to the ground. The crowd grew even more aggressive, prompting other RRT officers to deploy pepper spray and less lethal munitions to try and break up the riot.’
The union said an officer then attempted to arrest one of the rioters, when others began to interfere.
‘Per his training and in response to the active aggression of a rioter interfering with a lawful arrest, Officer Budworth used baton pushes to move a rioter, now known to be Teri Jacobs, out of the area. As Officer Budworth cleared Ms. Jacobs from the area to stop her criminal activity, Ms. Jacobs fell to the ground,’ the union continued.
‘Reasonably believing that she was getting back up to re-engage in her unlawful activities, Officer Budworth employed one last baton push to try and keep her on the ground, which accidentally struck Ms. Jacobs in the head.’
These Antifa types dress up as the ‘press’ to give them cover to riot with the veneer of being in the media. And it appears in this case it worked, as the girl has already gotten a $50k settlement from the and now this officer is being indicted.
According to WCAX, “Corey Budworth is charged with misdemeanor fourth-degree assault. He’s accused of “unlawfully, knowingly and recklessly causing physical injury” to Teri Jacobs on Aug. 18.”
That doesn’t remotely sound anything like what the union describes and both cannot be true. It sound to me like the prosecutors in Portland, which we know are corrupt, have also corrupted the grand jury.
So now what is Portland going to do without their riot squad?? If I were a Portland police officer, I’d get the hell out of that city and move to a state where city officials respect the cops.