April 14, 2021
DA Mike Schmidt files charges associated with violent direct-action event
PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced that Alma Raven-Guido is charged with arson in the second degree, criminal mischief in the first degree and felony riot for allegedly causing at least $25,000 in damages to a building in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood of Portland.
Raven-Guido is also charged with one count of felony riot for an unrelated incident that occurred during an unlawful assembly on August 25, 2020.
According to court documents, on Tuesday April 13, 2021, a group of 100 well-organized individuals marched to the Portland Police Association (PPA) building, which is located in the 1800 block of North Lombard Street.
Some members of the group communicated by radio, used shields, threw projectiles at police and wore black clothing to obscure their identities. Some affiliated with the group launched multiple large fireworks towards aircrafts that were flying overhead.
Upon arrival at PPA, a trash can with burning materials was placed adjacent to the building. A neighbor extinguished the fire with a garden hose. Police ordered the group to leave the area because of the dangerous and violent conduct. However, individuals from the group returned and placed more burning material against the building. This resulted in a second fire that was much larger and consumed part of the building’s exterior causing significant damage.
Law enforcement received information from a person who identified Raven-Guido as one of the individual’s responsible for contributing to the second fire. Raven-Guido allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the PPA building using three plastic bottles. The liquid Raven-Guido is accused of pouring onto the building resulted in the fire growing. A witness saw one of the bottles catch fire and start to melt. The witness told law enforcement Raven-Guido placed the three bottles into a backpack.
Upon arrest, police searched Raven-Guido’s backpack and recovered multiple lighters and three plastic bottles, including one that was melted. All three contained suspected accelerant.
The damage to the PPA building is estimated to be at least $25,000.
Further, it is alleged that on August 25, 2020, Raven-Guido and a group of more than 100 others used shields to block police from clearing the streets near Portland City Hall. Raven-Guido is accused of struggling and then attempting to run away from police when being taken into custody. At the time of arrest Raven-Guido, was holding a shield.
No additional information can be released by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
A charging document is only an accusation of a crime. Raven-Guido 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@mcda.us