In the latest development in the Occupy Portland occupation, a man living at the encampment was arrested for the second time in less than a week, this time on arson charges in
connection with a Molotov cocktail thrown at Portland’s World Trade Center late Tuesday night.
This comes amid an announcement that Mayor Sam Adams and Portland Police Chief Mike Reese will hold a news conference regarding Occupy Portland Thursday at 10 a.m. at City Hall. Earlier this week, Adams described the safety conditions at the encampment as "not sustainable"
in an open letter to the Occupy Portland movement.David Joseph Hodson, 29, is charged with one count each of arson in the first degree, manufacturing a destructive device, possession of a destructive device and criminal mischief in the second degree, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) reports.
Hodson was previously arrested Sunday, Nov. 6 on multiple charges in connection with three rubbish fires sparked that night on Southwest Taylor Street between 3rd and 5th avenues, according to Portland Fire and Rescue (PF&R).
At approximately 9:10 p.m. Tuesday, Portland police responded to reports that a Molotov cocktail had been thrown at the World Trade Center, located at 121 SW Salmon St. A Molotov cocktail is a glass bottle filled with a flammable liquid. It is ignited by using a rag or cloth as the wick, police say.
Hodson was identified as a suspect by investigators with Portland Fire and & Rescue (PF&R) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) due to a separate act of vandalism at the Smart Park parking structure at 123 SW Jefferson St. Hodson was taken into custody Wednesday morning at the Occupy Portland encampment by PF&R investigators and PPB officers.
For the second time, he was booked in the Multnomah County Jail. On Sunday, he was booked on three counts of reckless burning, disorderly conduct in the second degree, criminal mischief in the third degree and two counts of throwing lighted material in a roadway. PPB reports the three rubbish fires caused no significant property damage.
Meanwhile, there were three other arrests Tuesday and Wednesday at the Occupy Portland encampment located at Chapman and Lownsdale squares on Southwest 4th Avenue and Main Street.
Justin Desantis, 21, was cited and excluded from the encampment for having alcohol in the park.
Shawn Kimmel, 31, was arrested on one count of disorderly conduct in the second degree, possession of methamphetamine, carrying a concealed weapon and on a warrant for failure to appear in court on a charge of criminal trespass in the second degree in Clackamas County.
Christopher Hamblin-Rock, 20, was arrested on a probation violation warrant for theft in the third degree and furnishing false information to police.
The Portland Bureau of Development Services filed seven code violations this week against Portland Parks & Recreation for Lownsdale and Chapman squares. They included not having the proper permits, unsanitary conditions, and noise violations. Portland Parks & Recreation responded by drafting a letter to Occupy Portland
requesting they "move to correct these violations."PPB reported Wednesday that their overtime costs for Occupy Portland are now at $316,000.
In a report released Tuesday, PPB said crime in the area surrounding the Occupy Portland encampment rose 18 percent over the same period last year.
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Faris Tanyos
