A grand jury indicted a rioter for allegedly shining a high-powered laser into a law enforcement officer's eyes during a violent Portland protest last month.
36-year-old Bryan Michael Kelley was charged with class B felony assault, felony unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of unlawful directing of light from a laser pointer. His bail was set at $257,500.
Update: Bryan Michael Kelley, 36, has been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly using a high-powered laser to assault a Portland Police Bureau sergeant's eyes during an antifa-BLM riot. #PortlandRiots https://t.co/YGYJ0WRkPh pic.twitter.com/ME5XN6QzWt
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 17, 2020
The indictment accuses Kelley of using the laser pointer "as a dangerous weapon to unlawfully and intentionally and knowingly causing physical injury to a person he knew to be a police officer," announced Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office in a Tuesday press release.
This investigation started at a riot which was declared overnight on Aug. 25 that saw Antifa militants smash the glass of the Portland City Hall, breaching and vandalising the building.
Kelley allegedly assaulted a Portland Police Bureau sergeant several times with the blue high-intensity laser, court documents cite. The victim witnessed Kelley aim the light at authorities on multiple occasions.
Members of a rapid response team took Kelley into custody near Southwest Fourth Avenue and Southwest Jefferson Street. Kelley was booked for unlawful directing of light from a laser pointer, disorderly conduct in the second degree, and interfering with a peace officer. He was released without bail.
On Sept. 3, detectives re-arrested Kelly and served a search warrant at his residence.
Schmidt's office and PPB's Detective Division worked jointly to determine the strength of the light and the extent of the victim’s injury. Law enforcement tested the laser on a piece of paper, burning a hole straight through and causing dry material to catch fire.
"An assault on the police is an assault on the community we are sworn to protect. I commend the officers out there every day and night, and detectives whose follow up makes arrests like this possible. Anyone hiding behind legitimate protests to commit acts of violence should know the investigations keep going even if you get released after your initial arrest," Chief Chuck Lovell wrote in a PPB report.
Kelley remains in Multnomah County Detention Center. His case management hearing is scheduled for Dec. 17.
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