“I saw that online and knew I was (expletive)” says Damion Feller, speaking about a picture that he saw online of him allegedly tossing a flare through broken out window at a Portland Target store.
The incident in question was part of the May Day protest and march, which eventually devolved into a full scale RIOT, with fires burning in the streets, several windows smashed out, several cars vandalized, and much more.
A federal grand jury indicted Damion Feller on July 7 on two counts of malicious damage to property by fire for throwing lit flares into the downtown Target store and a police car during the May 1 protests.
The Associated Press first reported the charges July 10.
The indictments show federal prosecutors are taking an interest in the May 1 protests, where a swift crackdown by Portland police led to anarchists rioting and setting bonfires in the streets—much to the delight of national TV news.
Feller was also arrested and charged with arson, criminal mischief, riot and reckless burning in Multnomah County Circuit Court in May.
In a probable-cause affidavit, prosecutors said Feller confessed to police that he threw the flares. Why? “Mob mentality,” he allegedly said, and “because I am a fucking idiot.”
The federal indictment lists 2 counts, Malicious Damage to Property By Means of Fire (18 u.s.c. § 844) and Malicious Damage to Vehicle By Means of Fire (18 u.s.c. § 844). In addition to tossing a burning flare into Target, Feller also tossed a flare into a Portland Police Bureau vehicle.
Feller was indicted on county charges on May 11th. He is currently being housed at the Multnomah County Inverness Jail, on bond that appears to be $477,500 total, on a plethora of charges involving arson and similar crimes.
