A Portland man trying to avoid being arrested at a protest near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office jumped into the Willamette River Tuesday evening and swam to Ross Island, police say.
Officers said they hitched a ride on a Portland Fire & Rescue boat and eventually found Nathan V. Kaleel hiding in foliage in the lagoon around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The 36-year-old was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries to his hand sustained during the watery escape attempt, and then booked into jail on charges of third-degree robbery, a felony, and misdemeanor second-degree criminal mischief.
Police say Kaleel “used physical force” to grab a tripod from Thomas Allen, a conservative livestreamer who has himself been arrested at the protests but remains a regular presence.