September 16, 2020
PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced that 28-year-old Kason O’Connor is being charged for shining a green laser light directly into the eyes of two officers assigned to the Portland Police Bureau during a protest.
O’Connor is charged with two counts of unlawful directing of light from a laser pointer.
This investigation started July 13, 2020 at approximately 11:55 p.m. when officers assigned to the Portland Police Bureau’s Rapid Response Team were in the area of North Lombard and North Campbell Avenue near the Portland Police Association. Police declared an unlawful assembly because members in the group started throwing objects at law enforcement.
One of the victims reported seeing someone in the crowd, later identified as O’Connor, wearing distinctive clothing and reported seeing O’Connor shine a green laser light directly into his eyes as well as the eyes of a second officer, according to court documents.
When law enforcement when to take O’Connor into custody O’Connor initially ran from officers but was complaint when police made contact, according to court documents.
O’Connor also uses the names of “Kason Ralph” and “Kourtni Aliesha Pierson”
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. O’Connor is innocent unless and until proven guilty.
#MCDA#
Media Contact:
Brent Weisberg, Communications Director
Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office
Email: Brent.Weisberg@nullmcda.us