Last week, Tyrone Waters—who was shot by Portland police in September 2001, as he clutched a pellet gun during a psychotic episode on his neighbor’s front porch—made an appeal to Police Chief Rosie Sizer. At the chief’s bimonthly forum, Waters asked Sizer to take the lead on making sure her officers are better equipped to […]
Matt Davis
Matt Davis was news editor of the Mercury from 2009 to May 2010.
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Bad Apples
Cops Likely to Reject Key Racial Profiling Recommendation
On October 19—the day a report on racial profiling, commissioned by Mayor Tom Potter, is delivered to city council—the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) will face pressure to single out allegedly racist cops. The Mercury obtained a draft copy of the report’s executive summary this week, which makes six recommendations aimed at “eliminating racial profiling from […]
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Death in Custody
Eyewitnesses Describe Alleged Cop Brutality
Early Sunday evening, September 17, in the Pearl District, police attempted to arrest 42-year-old James Phillip Chasse Jr.—it was an altercation that apparently led to the suspect’s “accidental” death while in police custody. Just before 5:30 pm at NW 11th and Everett, officers saw Chasse, who was acting odd, according to the police, as if […]
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Zero Tolerance
Cops Attempt Bus Mall Cleanup
There’s a street corner in Portland’s Old Town where you can buy or sell crack, smoke it, play Zorro with broom handles, and even have sex in the street without much fear of arrest—but all that could change if Portland police follow through with a planned zero-tolerance clean-up mission. “The entire environment went from being […]
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Mocking the Afflicted
MySpace User Posts Homeless Pics
A resident of the neighborhood near NE 14th and Schuyler has been derided by advocates for Portland’s homeless and recovery population for posting photos of passed-out transients on a MySpace page called “Homeless on 14th.” The page—which went up last week and was linked to a Craigslist entry entitled “Live in inner NE? Hate all […]
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Liver Let Live
Chicago Has Banned Foie Gras from its Restaurants—Is Portland Next?
Despite the outlawing of foie gras in Chicago, many Portland chefs are prouder than ever to serve the controversial culinary delicacy made from the fattened livers of overfed geese or ducks—but for how long? Chicago’s ban on actually serving foie gras—also known as goose liver pâté—went into effect on August 22, and is the first […]
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Death in Custody
More Eyewitnesses Step Forward to Describe Alleged Cop Brutality
Early Sunday evening, September 17, in the Pearl District, police attempted to arrest 42-year old James Phillip Chasse Jr.—it was an altercation that may have led to the suspect’s death while in police custody. At this point, the bureau refuses to reveal why the officers were pursuing Chasse. However, just after 5 pm at NW […]
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Eat the Rich
Protestors’ New Tactic: Free Hot Dogs!
Local unions have a new weapon in the fight against contractors who hire low-wage, non-union employees for construction jobs. That weapon: free hot dogs. Last Thursday, September 7, about 300 people—many of them homeless, along with others showing up to support the cause—crowded around the corner of SW 11th and Clay as workers from the […]
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Smokescreen
Saltzman’s Public Smoking Ban?
If City Commissioner Dan Saltzman gets his way, by next month you could be looking at 30 days in jail and a $1,250 fine just for smoking in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Saltzman’s proposed ban on smoking in the square—which is technically a city park—now needs only his sign-off as parks commissioner to take effect. (Insiders […]
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Court in the Middle
Club Bouncers Get Screwed Again
Six previously unlicensed nightclub security staffers may be forced to spend this week picking up litter, after a community court judge surprised everyone—even the cops who cited them—with stiff sentences. On July 22, Portland Police cited 15 downtown security staffers for not having official state certification. But Downtown Street Crimes Sergeant Chris Davis, who issued […]
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Game of Chance
Five Courses for $10? Rack ’Em Up!
Before I salivate over the five-course, $10 happy-hour menu at the Uptown Billiards Club, I have an important confession to make: I’m a GENIUS at pool. A “one-time chancer,” or hustler if you will, I just love the long shots. Once, I pulled off nine eight-ball clearances in a row, and I can, and will, […]
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Speed! Death! Beer!
Portland’s Adult Soapbox Derby: Still Crazy After All These Years
Despite turning a wizened 11 years old this year, Portland’s Annual Adult Soapbox Derby maintains three priorities: fast cars, thrills, and alcohol. Sound dangerous? Damn right! And is it fun? Double damn right! With a lawsuit still outstanding after some serious injuries last year, organizers (Mercury Promotions Director) Zach Hull and Patrick Leyshock are taking […]