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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 2020)
February 19, 2020 The Page 3 INSIDE L O C A L N E W S Week in Review page 2 Wrongful Arrest Settlement leads to more investigations B LACK H ISTORY O PINION C LASSIFIED /B IDS inside Multiple police investigations looking at possible misconduct have been sparked after the story of a Portland African American man who was the alleged victim of a racially-motivated harassment in 2017 by a towing company employer and the West Linn Police Department, actions that also enlisted Portland’s for- mer gang enforcement team to make an arrest during a traffic stop. Since the case of Michael Fesser, 48, was reported last week by the Oregonian, new investigations have started in Clackamas and Multnomah counties, the Portland Police Bureau and city of West Linn. Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Congressman Earl Blumenauer have also asked the U.S. Attorney for Oregon to investigate possible civil rights violations. In addition, Portland City Commissioner Chloe Eu- daly has directed the Portland Bureau of Transporta- tion to sever its contract with A&B Towing, the com- pany at the heart of the harassment claims and Fesser’s former employer. Fesser this month won $600,000 in a civil suit against West Linn police, claiming he was targeted for arrest as a favor to a fishing buddy of former West Linn Chief Terry Timeus. The fishing friend was Eric Benson of A&B Towing, Fesser’s employer at the time who accused Fesser of stealing money from the com- pany. The lawsuit claimed two West Linn detectives and Timeus worked with the employer to fabricate a theft case against Fesser just as Fesser was alleging racial discrimination on the job because he was black. Saying she was sickened by Fesser’s wrongful ar- rest, Portland City Commissioner Eudaly last week Michael Fesser, 48, of Portland, won a $600,000 civil suit this month against the city of West Linn for a wrongful arrest in an alleged racially-motivated harassment case from 2017 involving West Linn police, Portland’s former gang enforcement team and his employer A&B Towing. (KATU photo) released a statement, saying she’s instructed Portland Bureau of Transportation to cut ties with A&B Towing, which currently holds one of the main towing contracts with the city. The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office will conduct a review to determine if officers involved committed crimes and whether action should be taken to avoid putting future cases in jeopardy. Portland Po- lice Chief Jami Resch has called for an internal police investigation. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s office also announced it would initiate a review of what led to Fesser’s arrest, including the involvement of the city’s gang enforcement team. Current West Linn Police Chief Terry Kruger said in a statement that the department would fully cooper- ate with the investigations, and that like many, he was deeply troubled and angered by the full weight of the allegations. He said the only remaining member of the West Linn police department associated with the Fess- er case was put on paid administrative leave pending the final outcome of the Clackamas County District Attorney’s investigation. pages 9 pages 10 503-288-0033 Subscribe ! Fill Out & Send To: Attn: Subscriptions, PO Box 3137, Portland OR 97208 $45.00 for 3 months • $80.00 for 6 mo. • $125.00 for 1 year (please include check with this subscription form) Name: Telephone: Address: or email subscriptions@portlandobserver.com Portland Community College hosts a meeting for minority, women, emerging small businesses and veteran-owned firms. Coming Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. will be another event to recruit participation in campus construction projects to be held on the Sylvania Campus Minority Business Outreach at PCC Portland Community College is recruiting participation in an event where certified minority, women, emerging small busi- ness and service-disabled vet- eran-owned firms are invited to meet with the college’s general contractors. The gathering will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the Sylvania Campus in southwest Portland in the College Center Upper Mall. Refreshments will be served, and parking is free. Representatives from PCC’s Facilities Management Services, Kirby Nagelhout Construction, Fortis Construction, Andersen Construction, Mortenson Con- struction, Lease Crutcher Lewis, Pence Construction, the Small Business Development Center and other firms will be in attendance. They’ll have information avail- able for their contracting needs and schedules for the different trades. This outreach function is part of the college’s effort to pro- mote business development and workforce diversity. For more information, call PCC Bond Fi- nance Manager John MacLean at 971-722-8435 or email john.ma- clean1@pcc.edu.