Police said they saw the long-haired man in a brawl before he bolted from authorities into a busy street during Saturday’s demonstrations in downtown Portland.
An officer chased and tackled the suspect near Southwest Second Avenue and Pine Street, court records say.
The man was later booked on suspicion of second-degree disorderly conduct, photographed, jailed briefly, then released — all without ever providing a name or piece of identification, which is not against the law.
“John Doe” was one of 13 people arrested throughout the day of protests between right-wing activists and counterdemonstrators, according to jail records and the Portland Police Bureau.
But it raises the question: How can a man being charged with a crime be let go when authorities don’t even know who he is?
"John Doe."
It’s unusual for an unknown suspect to walk out of any lockup, law enforcement representatives say. But the man’s fingerprints and the low-level charge he faced were enough to secure his release, said Julie Sullivan-Springhetti, a Multnomah County spokeswoman.
His fingerprints turned up no criminal record or outstanding warrants in local, state and national databases, the spokeswoman said.
As for second-degree disorderly conduct? That’s a class B misdemeanor, which carries a maximum of $3,500 fine or six months in jail.
“The charge coupled with the defendant’s criminal history met the criteria for expedited release,” Sullivan-Springhetti said.
“John Doe,” 25, signed his paperwork with an illegible autograph and received instructions to show up to court Monday, records show.
When prosecutors received the case that morning, they did not know the man’s true identity, said Brent Weisberg, a spokesman for the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
But prosecutors are still able to initiate criminal proceedings even without a suspect’s name, Weisberg said.
Had the man not shown up, a judge would have issued a bench warrant for failing to appear in court. Authorities would have the suspect’s photograph and fingerprints.
That afternoon, the long-haired suspect entered the courtroom of Judge Mark Peterson for his arraignment. The judge asked the defendant for his name.
This time, the man gave one: Damien McKinnon.
Next time McKinnon is in court, on Sept. 3, at least authorities will know who he is.
-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632
Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com
Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh
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