July 28, 2020 4:15 a.m.

U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams has announced that 22 people have been arrested and are facing federal charges for their roles in weekend protests at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland.

A release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, said according to court documents, since May 26th, protests in downtown Portland have been followed by nightly criminal activity including assaults on law enforcement officers, destruction of property, looting, arson, and vandalism. The release said the Hatfield Federal Courthouse has been a nightly target of vandalism during evening protests and riots, sustaining extensive damage.

Charges have included assaulting federal officers, harassment, stalking, operating a drone in restricted space and more.

The cases are being jointly investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Protective Service. They are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Oregon.