PORTLAND — Self-proclaimed Proud Boy Alan J. Swinney, accused of firing a paintball gun at counterprotesters and aiming a revolver at others with his finger on the trigger in downtown Portland, remains in custody with a $534,000 bail after a judge denied his motion for release.
Swinney, 50, has pleaded not guilty to a 12-count indictment on charges including second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of mace, pointing a gun at another person and menacing.
The indictment alleges Swinney used a paintball gun and mace or a similar substance during downtown demonstrations on Aug. 15 and Aug. 22. It also alleges he pointed a revolver during the Aug. 22 demonstration.
Multnomah County prosecutors said Swinney’s bail shouldn’t be reduced, citing his social media posts where he’s called the conflict between right-wing and left-wing activists a “civil war” and bragged about his access to guns. He also pledged on social media that “it will be hazardous to your health” if anyone confronted him, prosecutors said.
Swinney also admitted after his arrest that he drew a Ruger 357 Magnum revolver during the Aug. 22 protest in the city, the prosecutors wrote. The Proud Boys have distanced themselves from Swinney, who has identified himself as a member and has a “Proud Boy” tattoo on his forearm.
“Defendant’s willingness repeatedly to attend Portland protests while armed will not suddenly dissipate upon release. Social media posts by Defendant himself display his belief that violence is the appropriate response to the protests occurring in Portland,” Deputy District Attorneys Leslie Wu and Nathan Vasquez wrote in court documents.
They argued that Swinney is a risk to ignore future court hearings if he leaves jail, saying he’s from Texas, isn’t employed in Portland and has no ties to the city. He also has no respect for the court’s orders, writing in his social media posts that he won’t be told “how to defend myself” and that the “lefty judges, DAs, city council, and mayors can get bent,” the prosecutors wrote.
Circuit Judge Thomas Ryan maintained Swinney’s bail after a hearing Monday. Swinney remains in custody at Inverness Jail, pending trial.
Swinney’s lawyer Eric Wolfe argued for Swinney’s release or lowering his bail. Wolfe on Tuesday declined comment.
On Oct. 12, county pretrial supervision officer Randy Johnson initially recommended that Swinney could be released under certain conditions, including GPS monitoring with the order that he be banned from Portland’s downtown, not possess any weapons or ammunition including paintball guns and check in weekly with the county supervision office.
Johnson verified that Swinney had been living in a home in Rhododendron and could return to it. He’s been in Oregon for about nine months. Johnson noted that Swinney has one misdemeanor conviction for driving under the influence of intoxicants from 1995.
But three days later, the supervision officer changed his mind, writing to the court that new information from Portland police intelligence officers suggested that Swinney’s actions at city protests, coupled with his social media posts, makes Swinney “a lightning rod for violent interactions.”
One person also reported receiving death threats from groups aligned with Swinney, Johnson wrote. He recommended Swinney not be released or that any release be delayed until a safety plan could be put in place.
