An Antifa insurgent accused of assaulting police officers and stealing property from a federal courthouse at violent protests in Portland has been federally charged after his local felony assault charges were dropped by the district attorney.
Following an investigation by the FBI, Jeffrey Richard Singer, 33, was arrested and charged with felony civil disorder and theft of government property on Wednesday.
On Oct. 4, Antifa activists vandalized the new $324 million Multnomah County Courthouse in downtown Portland. According to the court document, Singer charged at two officers with his shoulder lowered, slamming into both and causing one cop to stagger backwards and suffer hand injuries. Singer was arrested and charged with felony assault of a public safety officer, felony first-degree criminal mischief, interfering with a peace officer and third-degree escape. He was quickly released without bail and those charges were dropped by the Multnomah County district attorney.
And on Sept. 19, Singer allegedly stole an American flag from the Gus Solomon Courthouse. The flag was set on fire as rioters chanted, “Black Trans Lives Matter.” No arrests were made.
#Antifa rioters in downtown Portland stole an American flag from the Gus Solomon federal courthouse and have set it on fire. They chant, “Black trans lives matter” while it burns. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/xtemYfG6vB
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 20, 2020
Singer is known in Portland for his years of involvement with Antifa. In February 2017 he was arrested when he and 40 others shut down a Portland city council meeting at city hall. His charges were later dropped. The following month, he returned and led a black bloc group in a protest where he made a threat over the microphone.
“This is the City of Roses, and it has thorns. They’re standing behind me,” Singer said while a black bloc group held an anarchist banner behind him. “You are laying the f—g seeds for an insurrection... It is not a threat, it is a fact. You are building towards something that’s gonna blow.
Singer made his initial appearance in federal court on Wednesday. He pleaded not guilty. He was given a conditional release. He has a two-day jury trial scheduled to begin on Dec. 22.
