The legislative director for the Democratic speaker of Oregon’s House of Representatives was arrested at a riot in Portland, Oregon, last weekend for interfering with a police officer, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
What are the details?
Kristina Narayan, 29, was arrested along with 58 others during a riot that began Saturday night and continued into Sunday morning, the paper said, citing a Portland Police Bureau report.
Narayan has worked for House Speaker Tina Kotek since 2016, the Free Beacon said. Kotek represents northeast Portland, Townhall reported.
Dear Oregon House Speaker @TinaKotek: One of your top aides, Kristina Narayan, may need to socially distance from… https://t.co/yc3SVc6ETI — 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸)1599719039.0
Narayan was booked just after 2 a.m. Sunday for the misdemeanor; she was released the same day without bail. The Free Beacon said Kotek’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment.
What happened at the riot?
Portland police said “multiple fire bombs, mortars, rocks, and other items were thrown at law enforcement” during the riot.
“Many in the crowd were carrying large shields … and dressed in protective gear including helmets, gas masks, body armor, and all black clothing,” police added. “It was clear that the intent of the crowd was not peaceful protest. Therefore officers were positioned in such a way that prevented the march from reaching East Precinct.”
Police said individuals in the crowd “began throwing multiple fire bombs at officers” just after 9 p.m.
More from the police:
What do we know about Kotek, the Oregon House speaker?
In July, Kotek criticized Portland police for the “unacceptable” practice of using tear gas to disperse rioters.
“It was an unnecessary escalation by the [Portland Police Bureau] against people exercising their freedom of assembly and freedom of speech,” Kotek said in a letter to Democratic Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, the Associated Press said. “It showed an utter inability to exercise restraint. Smart policing is when an officer can differentiate a minor provocation from a serious threat. Nothing about this was smart.”
*story by The Blaze