Portland Police Bureau joined our Unified Command Partners with the Portland Rose Festival Foundation, Portland Fire & Rescue, Portland Bureau of Emergency Management, and the Portland Bureau of Transportation to enjoy a successful Grand Floral Parade.
PPB Officers, Public Safety Support Specialists, Cadets, Sergeants, Criminalists, Detectives, Lieutenants, Captains, Commanders, Assistant Chiefs, Deputy Chief Mike Frome, and Police Chief Bob Day enjoyed the parade and interacting with members of the community who attended.
“It was a beautiful day for a parade, and a great opportunity for me and the other members of PPB to connect with the community we serve,” said Chief Day. “I’m grateful for the professional police response to the brief interruption by a group intent on interfering with this community event.”
Eight arrests were made after protesters attempted to block the parade. The parade, which began at 10:06a.m., was only briefly interrupted.
Officers were made aware of a protest of a few dozen people on the sidewalk on Northeast Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard near Northeast Pacific Street, and there was information that the group may be motivated to block the parade. PPB Event Liaison Officers approached members of the group, offered to be a point of contact with PPB and parade organizers, and let them know that they were welcome to be there and engage in free speech. However, they were warned not to disrupt the parade. The group members agreed.
However, shortly thereafter, some of the group began to encroach beyond the honor line into the street, potentially blocking some of the marching bands and large floats. Bike Squad officers responded and made a line, asking the group to back up behind the line. They initially complied, but then began to get verbally hostile. After about an hour, a relief squad was called in. The relief squad was an ad-hoc group of officers and other PPB members who had to be pulled off of barricades and other duties to assist with the protest. One person, later identified as Rio C. Moncrief, splashed a beverage on a PPB Sergeant and two Officers.
About 11:15a.m., a handful of protesters pushed through the officers on the line and laid down on the parade route. PPB Officers and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office deputies moved in and arrested eight people. During the arrests, the woman who earlier splashed the PPB members then threw a can containing liquid at them. No PPB members were injured.
After a few minutes, the parade resumed without further disruption.
About 30 minutes later, near Northeast Davis Street and Northeast 8th Avenue, officers made an additional arrest of the woman who threw the beverage on the police sergeant and officers.
Booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center were:
Serine M. Abuelhawa, 29, of Portland, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Brooke E. Keller, 35, of Portland, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Marjannah A. Hassan, 18, of Hillsboro, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Kaley J. Seeberger, 24, of Portland, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Willoughby F. Cooke, 38, of Portland, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Elina R. Leyhovskaya, 18, of Portland, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Gabrielle E. Lyman, 26, of Portland, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Rio C. Moncrief, 34, of Portland, Harassment, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
A ninth person, an adult female, was detained but released prior to booking.
Grand Floral Parade a Success Despite a Brief Interruption by a Protest
