Portland Antifa militant charged for throwing rock at officer’s head during anti-ICE riot

Robert Jacob Hoopes, 24, of Portland, has been accused of throwing a large rock within close distance at an ICE officer's head, resulting in serious injury. He also allegedly used a makeshift "battering ram" to vandalize the ICE building, among other offenses, according to court documents.

Hoopes has been charged with felony aggravated assault of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon and depredation of federal property in an amount exceeding $1,000. He was arrested by the FBI on July 25 when federal agents raided his home, busting into his residence with their guns drawn.

The defendant was arraigned in federal court on Monday, July 28, and entered a not guilty plea.

Defendant Robert Jacob Hoopes

According to an FBI affidavit, Hoopes allegedly attempted to breach the front door of the ICE facility on June 14 with several other rioters. He was captured on surveillance video throwing multiple large rocks towards the door. Hoopes, wearing all black clothing and obscuring his identity behind a gas mask, then moved to barricade the front doors in an attempt to trap federal officers inside the building.

As officers opened the door to clear the barricade, Hoopes allegedly threw a large rock within arm's length distance, striking an ICE Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) officer in the head. The attack resulted in the officer sustaining a "significant laceration" over his eye, according to court documents.

Hoopes was captured on surveillance video allegedly gathering and throwing rocks at federal officers and the ICE facility. Photo courtesy: FBI affidavit

Photo of Hoopes allegedly throwing a rock and the ICE officer's injuries. Photo courtesy: FBI affidavit

Later that day, Hoopes was observed with several additional black clad militants using an upended stop sign as a "makeshift battering ram," striking the main entry door to the ICE facility several times. The unlawful act resulted in significant damage to federal property, totaling more than $7,400, according to the affidavit, which noted that the subjects worked in "concert," but Hoopes was "leading the charge."

Hoopes was captured on surveillance video using an upended Stop sign as a makeshift "battering ram." Photo courtesy: FBI affidavit

Federal authorities determined Hoopes was the alleged attacker after discovering a photo of his "unmasked" face and an identifiable tattoo that was featured in a news article published in The Oregonian. Agents then used facial recognition software, which provided 30 possible comparison photos from various public databases. One of the photos was from a Reed College Smugmug photo-sharing page called "Canyon Day April '23," which depicted a man with a similar build and appearance with the identical tattoo, according to the affidavit.

The facial recognition software also provided an Instagram account, @illdowhatican, which listed its name as "Jacob Hoopes." The account also stated that the user graduated from Reed College Computer Science in 2023. An FBI agent contacted Reed College's Director of Community Safety, who provided alumni information that revealed Jacob Hoopes' full name is Robert Jacob Hoopes, according to court documents.

Federal agents used this photo of Hoopes, featured in The Oregonian, to uncover his identity through facial recognition software. Photo courtesy: FBI affidavit/The Oregonian

On July 10, FBI agents conducted surveillance at Hoopes' Portland residence and captured a photo of him with the distinctive tattoo on his left forearm. He was taken into custody on July 25 when FBI agents raided his home, which he shares with his Antifa-affiliated girlfriend, with their guns drawn.

FBI agents captured this image of Hoopes while conducting surveillance at his Portland residence. Photo courtesy: FBI affidavit

Hoopes self-identifies as a "Quaker pacifist," but his alleged actions that day portray a different story, according to Assistant US Attorney Gary Sussman, who described Hoopes to the Court as a violent danger to the community.

Sussman argued that Hoopes should remain in pre-trial custody, but Judge Youlee Yim You refused the request. Instead, the judge ordered Hoopes' release with various conditions, including GPS monitoring and a prohibition on returning to the ICE facility or the surrounding area.

Dozens of individuals involved in the Quaker community supported Hoopes in the courtroom, unaware of the crimes he allegedly committed. His father, Thomas Hoopes, flew in from Philadelphia to support him. There was a rally outside the federal courthouse calling for the release of Hoopes before the hearing, which received support from Socialist Portland City Council member Angelita Morrillo.

Online records show that Hoopes attended George School, an elite private boarding school in Pennsylvania, before graduating from Reed College. George School has a tuition of $77,500 for boarding students and $51,300 for day students.

Hoopes faces more than 20 years in federal prison if convicted on the charges. More than 20 individuals have been federally charged for a variety of offenses committed during the ongoing Antifa occupation outside the ICE facility, which began on June 7.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and is being prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon.