A Multnomah County judge has set bail at $250,000 for Michael Strickland, a man accused of pulling a gun on a crowd during a Black Lives Matter protest in Portland Thursday night.
The judge also prohibited Strickland from accessing weapons or ammunition if he is able to post bail.
Strickland is charged with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, a felony. He's also facing misdemeanor charges of menacing and disorderly conduct.
Strickland was released after his initial arrest, but was taken back into custody Friday.
At least two protesters captured video of Strickland drawing his gun, holding it with both hands, and sweeping it across the crowd.
Deputy Multnomah County District Attorney Kate Molina said a plainclothes police officer witnessed the event and was among those Strickland pointed the gun at.
The officers who arrested Strickland said Strickland he was carrying a Glock 26 or similar handgun with a round in the chamber and a full magazine. They found five extra magazines of ammunition in his pockets and in a pouch on his belt.
'Given that Mr. Strickland pulled a gun on a crowd of people in front of the steps of the justice center, while he was heavily armed with additional ammunition and has prior police reports of possibly racially based threats is extremely concerning to the state," Molina said.
Deputy DA Molina said that Strickland had clashed recently with people attending a vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, and that Strickland may have threatened one of the people at the vigil.
"When one of the attendees asked Mr. Strickland to leave, there was some sort of exchange, I believe, and within a day or so, that attendee started receiving numerous phone calls and text messages on a daily basis that were of a threatening and race based nature," Molina said.
Strickland's attorney, Jason Short, said that the $250,000 bail was inappropriate his client does not pose a threat. "He has been previously assaulted in his employment. He is a journalist. The reason he is at these events is because that's what he does for a living," Short said.
Strickland videos protests and posts them to a YouTube channel, "Laughing at Liberals."
Strickland's attorney says his client has no criminal history and had a concealed carry permit for his handgun.
Copyright 2016 Oregon Public Broadcasting
