Salem Police Dept. – 08/11/21 3:29 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Salem, Ore. — Dueling rallies in northeast Salem ended with violence resulting in the arrest of one individual. Shortly after 6:00 p.m. on August 10, 2021, participants for both protests began to gather in and around the sidewalk and parking lot of the Planned Parenthood facility located in the 3800 block of Wolverine ST NE.
Several individuals wore gas masks and helmets and carried shields, paintball guns, bear mace cannisters and other devices. Some individuals from both groups openly carried firearms. The gathering, however, remained largely peaceful throughout the evening.
At approximately 8:15p.m., participants began to leave the area. Shortly after, two individuals were seen having a verbal altercation, which turned violent. Participants from each opposing side then deployed chemical irritants at each other and launched smoke fireworks and one mortar-style pyrotechnic device.
In response to the altercation, the Salem Police Department Mobile Response Team entered the area to disperse the crowd and prevent further acts of violence. The crowd management team repeatedly broadcast orders for the crowd to disperse, yet some continued to fight and throw objects. As the officers worked to clear the scene, inert impact rounds were deployed to effect the arrest of an individual who failed to comply with the lawful orders. The individual, identified as Clifford Phillip Eiffler Rodriguez, a 35-year-old Salem resident, shoved an officer as she moved in line with the other officers. Rodriguez was transported to the hospital for medical evaluation and cleared, after which he was lodged at the Marion County Correctional Facility under the following charges: Second degree disorderly conduct, interfering with a police officer and harassment.
As with every incident of this type, the Salem Police Department will be conducting follow-up on incidents of criminal behavior not previously reported or investigated. Anyone present who was a victim of a crime or was a witness to a crime is asked to file a report with the Salem Police Department through the non-emergency line at 503-588-6123, press option 1.
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