PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A tense situation unfolded at the South Portland ICE facility when an ambulance team faced serious delays due to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers earlier this month.
On October 5, video captured a group of protestors gathered outside the ICE facility in Portland, signifying the heightened unrest around the issue.
As recounted in leaked documents first reported by Willamette Week, the confronting situation escalated to a federal agent threatening the ambulance driver.
A search is underway for a missing 78-year-old in Forest Grove who may have fallen into a hole.
KOIN 6 News has confirmed that American Medical Response (AMR) management and members of the Teamsters union convened with the Federal Protective Service on the evening of the incident to discuss what occurred, yet officials have remained tight-lipped during the ongoing investigation.
Emergency Communications documents logged by KOIN 6 News indicate that ICE detained a 32-year-old white male suffering from a broken collarbone that night.
The dispatch records show an AMR ambulance was requested at 9:14 p.m. to transport this individual to Legacy Emanuel Hospital. While the medical team arrived at the site promptly, problems arose when they tried to exit at 9:34 p.m.
According to reports, at 9:34 p.m., the EMT in charge reported that the ICE officers were preventing their departure. The EMT reiterated this message again at approximately 9:40 p.m.
Radio chatter among Portland police was consistent, suggesting that “protesters are cleared out” and it “looks like they’re getting ready to open the gates soon.” Yet, the ambulatory team was still stuck.
An officer cited, “There are 50-60 federal agents blocking the road completely with the ambulance,” reinforcing the interruption.
Details about the elusive ten minutes spent behind the gates remain absent from public documents.
Nevertheless, police transcripts from the area noted law enforcement was working to clear roads of participants in the demonstration.
The situation wrapped up nearly ten minutes later, and yet video from our crew revealed the ambulance finally leaving the ICE facility. An EMT can be heard confirming on the radio at 9:42 p.m. that they had “finally made it on the road – CODE 1 to Emanuel.”
KOIN 6 News reached out to AMR for comment, and they issued the following statement:
“The safety and wellbeing of our public service partners, employees, patients, and community members is our top priority. We’re working closely with the Federal Protective Service to review all aspects of this incident.”
“While we cannot disclose further details to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we are committed to the Multnomah County community to ensure the best care and uphold support for our caregivers and patients every day.”
A local business offered free drinks to inflatable protestors this past Saturday, showing support for ongoing protests.
Both ICE and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to KOIN 6 News’ request for comments regarding this situation.
Emergency personnel familiar with the situation remarked that the ambulance team members involved felt initially “shaken” but were reassured after the meeting regarding the incident. They emphasized the need for safety amidst such tensions and voiced their expectations from AMR leadership on this front.
“We oppose all violence against our healthcare professionals, just as we advocate for our community’s safety. Our leadership must step up in ensuring everyone’s security during these pressing times,” emphasized Tim Mollman, an AMR paramedic.
Austin DePaolo, Secretary-Treasurer of the Teamsters Local 223 union, expressed sentiments about the professionalism exhibited by their EMS members during the emergency.
“Our Teamsters local EMS prides itself on responding to every situation with care and composure. We appreciate the constructive dialogue with federal agents since this incident; we all share the mission of keeping patients and the public safe, and this level of communication is promising for avoiding future issues.”
KOIN 6 News promises coverage on the investigation’s outcomes and what took place in that crucial time frame.
For dispatch recordings from this incident, check the video player above.
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