December 2, 2020
PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced that the Multnomah County grand jury has returned an indictment against 21-year-old Cyan Bass for throwing a destructive device in an attempt to physically injure a police officer during a mass demonstration near the Multnomah County Justice Center during an unlawful assembly.
Bass is charged with two counts of arson in the first degree, one count of attempted arson in the first degree, two counts of criminal mischief in the first degree, one count of attempted assault in the first degree, one count of unlawful possession of a destructive device, one count of riot, one count of attempted assault of a public safety officer, and one count of unlawful use of a weapon.
It is alleged that in the late evening hours of September 23 and into the early morning hours of September 24, 2020, two separate fires were intentionally set to the Multnomah County Justice Center and more than $1,000 in damage resulted. Law enforcement identified Bass as the suspect to those incidents.
Law enforcement also identified Bass as being the person who allegedly intentionally threw a destructive device, which did not explode, toward a law enforcement officer and that by doing so he intentionally attempted to cause both physical and serious physical injury.
The co-defendant in this case, Hannah Lilly, 21, is charged with two counts of arson in the first degree, one count of attempted arson in the first degree, two counts of criminal mischief in the first degree and one count of riot.
The Portland Police Bureau located and arrested Bass and Lilly on December 1, 2020.
Law enforcement initially referred these two cases to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office on September 24, 2020. This office determined additional investigative follow up was required. Law enforcement worked with prosecutors assigned to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Strategic Prosecution and Services Unit to conduct the necessary investigative follow up which led to the presentation of evidence before the grand jury.
No additional information can be released by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
A charging document is only an accusation of a crime. Bass and Lilly are innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Media Contact:
Brent Weisberg, Communications Director
Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office
Email: Brent.Weisberg@nullmcda.us