Authorities at Portland State University are considering further arrests after individuals fled the library as officers were clearing the building. The library remains an active crime scene as investigations into potential offenses are ongoing.
During the operation, law enforcement discovered a range of concerning items inside the building. These included improvised weapons, hollow bamboo sticks, buckets filled with ball bearings, unspecified tools, paint balloons, spray bottles containing ink intended for deployment at officers, and cups of paint. Additionally, a slippery substance was found on at least one floor, impeding the officers' movements.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler emphasized that those arrested will face prosecution, stating that criminal destruction and violence are not forms of protest but clear criminal activities. He pledged to hold the perpetrators accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Similarly, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt condemned the destructive behavior, emphasizing that actions such as graffiti spraying, window-breaking, and arson will not be tolerated. Charging decisions will be made following the collection and review of evidence.
University President Ann Cudd announced the closure of the campus and lockdown of buildings in response to the incident. Despite attempts to negotiate with students inside the library, warning them that remaining constituted trespassing, the situation escalated. Cudd expressed openness to meeting with students to address their concerns but stressed that those arrested will face consequences.
Cudd lamented the damage inflicted on the library, describing the event as traumatic for the campus community. She expressed sorrow that students, along with external individuals, had severely harmed the essential learning space.
