March 12, 2021
DA Mike Schmidt charges person accused of destroying property during protest
PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced that 22-year-old Darby Howard is charged with destroying property inside the Wells Fargo Center during a protest in which individuals associated with the group accessed the building’s lobby.
Howard is charged with one count of criminal mischief in the first degree, one count of resisting arrest, and one count of attempting to assault a public safety officer.
This investigation started on March 11, 2021 when a group of approximately 50 people went inside various businesses in downtown as part of a protest. Portland Police responded to the Wells Fargo Center, located at 1300 Southwest 5th Avenue, after receiving information from building employees that protesters refused to leave.
Police spoke with a witness who reported seeing a person, later identified as Howard, inside the Wells Fargo Center’s lobby hit a TV with his fist and then kick an automatic sliding door causing damage to both.
The damage to the building’s property is estimated by employees to be more than $1,000.
Portland Police located and contacted Howard after the group left the Wells Fargo Center. It is alleged Howard punched a Portland Police officer in the head when police attempted to arrest Howard outside the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse.
While being taken into custody, Howard attempted to push his way through a line of police officers but fell to the ground, which is when police placed Howard into handcuffs.
No additional information can be released by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office at this time.
A charging document is only an accusation of a crime. Howard is 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