‘Won’t be tolerated’: Portland man accused of assaulting federal agent during ICE protest

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A Portland man made his first appearance in federal court on Monday for allegedly assaulting a federal agent while protesting outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland on Sept. 27.

Portland resident Tomas Plancarte-Benson, 37, has been charged with assaulting an officer, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. 

“Violence at the ICE building or any other federal building will not be tolerated,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott Bradford said in the release. “If you assault a federal law enforcement officer, you will be arrested and prosecuted.”

According to court documents obtained by KOIN 6 News, Federal Protective Service and ICE agents deployed outside the Portland ICE building around 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 27 to clear the entrance for vehicles to enter the property. They played a long-range acoustic device, or LRAD, warning. Then, agents walked into the roadway on South Bancroft near the intersection of South Moody Avenue. 

One of the officers used a police shield to push Plancarte-Benson out of the way when he refused to move. The officer also told Plancarte-Benson “move” and “clear the driveway,” according to the charging documents. Plancarte-Benson then used both of his arms to push the officer back, as captured by video surveillance.

Agents from FPS and ICE deployed at about 8:10 p.m. to make a targeted arrest of Plancarte-Benson, according to the documents. The officer who was pushed said that Plancarte-Benson began making punching gestures after he shoved him. When he was taken into custody, he declined to waive his Miranda rights and participate in an interview.

His arraignment is set for Oct. 29 before a federal judge in Portland.