Regional News

Mayor Calls For Investigation Into Texts Between Police, Patriot Prayer Leader

(Portland, OR)  --  Mayor Ted Wheeler is calling for an investigation into hundreds of text messages between a Portland police lieutenant and the leader of the alt-right group Patriot Prayer.  Willamette Week reports it filed a public records request to obtain the texts between Lieutenant Jeff Niiya and Joey Gibson.  The texts reportedly indicate a friendly rapport between the two while showing that police officers have been coordinating with Patriot Prayer members during protests that draw counter-protesters like AntiFa.  One string of texts shows the lieutenant advising Gibson on how Patriot Prayer and Proud Boys member Tusitala "Tiny" Toese could evade arrest, despite having an active arrest warrant out at the time.  The texts show Niiya telling Gibson to make sure Toese doesn't do anything that could draw police attention.  Toese has been accused of assaulting multiple people at Patriot Prayer rallies and counter-protests.

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