Protesters accused of kicking PSU campus police chief during confrontation
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — After a confrontation between protesters and police at Portland State University on Thursday night led to the arrest of several students, recently released court documents allege two of the protesters kicked the university’s chief of campus police during the struggle.
The chief, Willie Halliburton, was taken to the hospital later that night after suffering from a “medical emergency,” the university said.
In the original incident, protesters had chained themselves to the Richard Maurine Neuberger Center Thursday night. The chained protesters were asked to leave and declined, the school said. This is when both campus and Portland police responded to the scene, eventually creating a barrier line for officers trying to break the chains.
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Court documents allege protester Sarah Netto tried repeatedly to push through the barrier, despite threat of arrest. During the struggle, Netto had reportedly kicked Chief Halliburton in the leg. She was arrested soon after on charges including attempted assault of a public safety officer, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass and resisting arrest. Officials later confirmed Netto was not affiliated with PSU.
Another protester, Sarah Amani, allegedly struck another campus police officer in the face, breaking her glasses. Multiple officers then moved to arrest Amani leading to another struggle in which Amani kicked Chief Halliburton near his stomach. However, she was soon arrested and charged with assault of a public safety officer, attempted assault of a public safety officer, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass and resisting arrest.
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The university has not released any additional details surrounding what led to Chief Halliburton’s hospitalization. It is also unclear if it was related to any of the injuries he sustained that night.
Further, the university said he is still in the hospital and continues to be under medical supervision as of Saturday afternoon.
Netto and Amani will next appear in court on August 2.
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