Federal officers in Portland allegedly stalled and threatened an ambulance crew as they treated and transported an injured demonstrator near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility earlier this month, according to accounts from the ambulance operator and union officials obtained by Willamette Week and reported by multiple outlets.
Ambulance crew delayed while treating injured protester
American Medical Response (AMR) employees detailed the encounter in an internal incident report that says federal agents interfered with the crew’s efforts to move a wounded person from the South Portland ICE building to the ambulance. Emergency records show the ambulance arrived about 9:20 p.m. to treat a protester with a broken or dislocated collarbone. The crew says federal agents sought to ride in the ambulance with the patient; the driver refused, citing policy that prevents officers from riding with a patient who is not under arrest.
According to the AMR report, the standoff stretched on for roughly 20 minutes. At one point, the ambulance driver briefly placed the vehicle in park — an action an agent interpreted as an attempt to hit him. The agent then allegedly shouted at the driver: “Don’t you ever do that again, I will shoot you, I will arrest you,” the report states.
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Austin DePaolo, a spokesperson for Teamsters Local 223, which represents the AMR crew, told The Oregonian the members “responded with professionalism and calm in a situation that could have easily gotten out of control.” DePaolo urged law enforcement to treat emergency medical personnel with the same respect and cooperation that EMS workers afford officers while performing life-saving duties.
The crew was ultimately allowed to depart the scene around 9:40 p.m., though unmarked federal vehicles reportedly followed the ambulance to the hospital, according to Willamette Week’s reporting and public records.
Incident unfolded amid heightened tensions at ICE facility
The incident came on a night of elevated tensions outside the ICE facility, after demonstrations erupted over federal deployments in Portland. Protesters celebrated when a federal judge issued a broader order barring National Guard troops from deployment in Oregon, but clashes with federal officers later erupted when agents exited the building and detained several people. Witnesses reported protesters hurling insults at officers; videos and social media posts from the night show heated confrontations and law enforcement activity.
The medical response was prompted after a protester sustained a serious shoulder injury during one of those scuffles. City emergency records identify the injured person as a 32-year-old; local reporting indicates no arrest of a 32-year-old tied to the Oct. 5 events was recorded by Portland police or federal agents.
Federal agencies silent; local news outlets press for answers
Requests for comment to the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies were not returned by Willamette Week, The Oregonian, or subsequent outlets seeking clarification. Portland police and city emergency services have not publicly disputed the ambulance crew’s account, but official statements have been limited.
Questions about protocol and accountability
The episode raises questions about standard procedures when law enforcement and medical personnel interact during protests or mass-casualty events. Legal and labor advocates say EMS workers should be able to perform care without intimidation or threats, while law enforcement officials point to safety concerns for both medics and detained subjects.
Union leaders and local advocates are calling for a review of the incident and for clear protocols to ensure emergency responders can treat and transport patients without obstruction. As scrutiny grows, residents and activists say the confrontation underscores broader tensions over federal presence and crowd-control tactics in Portland — tensions that show little sign of abating.
