Man faces felony after allegedly spitting on federal officer outside Portland ICE facility

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A Portland man made his first federal court appearance on Tuesday after allegedly assaulting a federal officer near South Portland’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.

Officials said 38-year-old Alexander Jay Boyce was charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.

According to court documents, on the night of October 5, Boyce was among a group of people encroaching the driveway of the ICE facility. After officers gave several warnings, telling the group to stay off federal property, Boyce allegedly spat on an officer’s helmet, leading to his immediate arrest.

“Nobody spits on the brave men and women of federal law enforcement and gets away with it. If you spit on a federal law enforcement officer, you will be hit with federal charges,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Since June 13, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged 31 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building for charges such as assaulting federal officers, failure to comply and depredation of government property, officials said.

Following his court appearance on Tuesday, Boyce was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison.