This was an individual recently released after setting fires outside the Occupy Portland encampment.
This morning, Wednesday November 9, 2011, Portland Police officers arrested 29-year-old David Joseph Hodson for throwing a Molotov cocktail at the World Trade Center, located at 121 Southwest Salmon Street, in the late evening hours of Tuesday November 8. Officers obtained a very good description of the suspect and later located him within the Occupy Portland encampments.
Hodson has been booked into the Multnomah County Jail for Arson in the First Degree, Manufacturing a Destructive Device, Possession of a Destructive Device, and Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree.
Hodson was also arrested on November 6 for several charges related to starting fires near the Occupy Portland encampments.
Police said a Molotov cocktail was set off in an exterior stairwell at the World Trade Center building in downtown Portland tonight, and they believe protesters at Occupy Portland might be responsible.
Someone called 9-1-1 to report the incident about 9:10 p.m., said Lt. Robert King, a spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau. No one was hurt, but a fire caused some damage to the stairs.
"We're very fortunate that a larger fire didn't occur. These devices are completely unpredictable and destructive — we're very fortunate that no one was injured," King said.
Police have been investigating reports since Oct. 31 that a person or group of people at the downtown Occupy Portland encampment has been making or storing Molotov cocktails, King said. Detectives didn't release the information to protect their investigation.
But preliminary information received tonight suggested there was a link between the camp and the makeshift bomb thrown at the World Trade Center, King said.
From the police press release 11-9-11:
Tonight, Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 9:10 p.m. Portland Police officers assigned to Central Precinct responded to a call of a Molotov Cocktail being set off at the World Trade Center, 121 Southwest Salmon.
Arson investigators have been called to the scene and as it is an active and ongoing investigation no additional details are available at this time.
On Monday October 31, 2011 Portland Police received unconfirmed information that a person or people within the Occupy Portland encampments at Chapman and Lownsdale Square Parks may be constructing or have constructed Molotov Cocktails.