Philip "Standard" Schaefer briefly grabbed a guy's glasses before handing them to a security guard (see video below) Credit: Doug Brown
Philip Standard Schaefer briefly grabbed a guys glasses before handing them to a security guard (see video below)
Philip “Standard” Schaefer briefly grabbed a guy’s glasses before handing them to a security guard (see video below) Doug Brown

Local activist Philip “Standard” Schaefer is no longer facing a felony robbery charge for briefly snatching a guy’s glasses during scuffle at a protest in front of the Portland Building late last month. As of today, he’ facing a misdemeanor harassment charge instead.

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) arrested Schaefer a few days after the March 29 Quanice Hayes-related protest and booked him on second degree felony robbery and coercion charges, for some reason. Prosecutors, at his arraignment last Monday, declined to prosecute Schaefer for coercion and bumped the second degree felony charge to a third degree felony.

Today, prosecutors amended the charge against Schaefer to one count of class B misdemeanor harassment. Local activists and civil rights advocates believed the PPB targeted Schaefer, a vocal police critic, based on his police watchdog activism. With today’s move by the district attorney’s office, it’s hard to refute that.

Here’s how we described what Schaefer did on March 29:

The incident was captured on video by the Mercury and a few other media outlets. A group of activists tried to enter the Portland Building, where City Council would be held, to testify about the killing of Quanice Hayes. Building security blocked the door, however, and wouldn’t let them in, so activists stood in front of that main entrance for a while to prevent others doing what they weren’t allowed to: “If we can’t get in, ain’t none of your employees getting,” said another activist blocking the door. People managed to get in through side doors, however.

The scuffle with the guy who had his glasses briefly snatched starts when he tried to pushed through protesters and into the building. Protesters wouldn’t move and the guy pushed a few people. From my observation, he looked ready to throw down. Schaefer, in the brimmed hat and wearing a tie, didn’t back down either and yelled at the guy to not touch people. The guy puffed up his chest and bumped into Schaefer. Schaefer stepped up to him. Another person then put the guy in a chokehold for a couple seconds (that person was charged with assault and strangulation) before Schaefer snatched his glasses from the guy’s face. He turned around, walked a few feet, and handed glasses to a security guard.

For that, Schaefer is facing a felony robbery charge.

Schaefer’s new misdemeanor arraignment is scheduled to take place next Tuesday.