Tip From Portland Police Informant Leads to Arson Charges Against Alleged Antifa Rioter

Alma Raven-Guido (Portland Police Bureau)

A tip from a Portland Police Bureau informant led to arson charges against a woman for allegedly setting fire to a police union building on April 13, according to court papers.

Alma Raven-Guido was observed pouring an accelerant on a fire in Oregon’s largest city during a riot, a police affidavit obtained by The Epoch Times says.

“The informant observed the defendant pour a flammable liquid on the building from three plastic bottles which the informant described as having labels which were either blacked out or taped over with black tape,” the affidavit states. “The informant further explained that when the defendant was pouring the liquid on the fire and causing the fire to grow, one of the bottles caught on fire and started to melt.”

Raven-Guido, 19, was charged with arson, criminal mischief, and felony riot by the Multnomah County district attorney’s office.

The informant allegedly saw Raven-Guido place three bottles of the “flammable liquid” into her backpack.

Portland Fire & Rescue Lt. Jason Anderson was also present during an interview with the police information, according to the affidavit.

“Lt. Anderson reports that the informant has no criminal convictions, has a history of providing credible and reliable information on multiple prior investigations, and that the informant personally observed the action of the defendant,” the affidavit stated. “In particular, the informant told Lt. Anderson that the defendant was present when the second large fire began.”

Raven-Guido was identified as a University of Oregon student and told officials that she was a journalism student. Raven-Guido was arrested last August on several misdemeanor charges including disorderly conduct in riots and protests before she was released.

The affidavit said that Raven-Guido and other rioters were dressed in “black bloc”-style clothing similar to what Antifa uses.

Antifa is a far-left, anarcho-communist network that regularly engages in violence.

A court-appointed attorney for the defendant did not respond to a request for comment.

The fire was allegedly started by rioters on Tuesday night, leading officials to declare a riot, authorities said.

A member of the crowd was spotted spraying “unknown accelerant on the wooden framing around a door of the building, then lit it on fire,” Portland Police said.

“I don’t consider these protests. We’re talking about direct action events that are being billed as such and these are criminal events,” Portland Police Bureau Capt. Tina Jones told media outlets, adding that $25,000 in estimated damage was done.

“Burning things, breaking things and attempting to injure police puts lives at risk. I condemn those who were involved in these criminal acts,” Mayor Ted Wheeler also said during a City Council meeting on Wednesday morning. “For those who engage in criminal destruction and violence: Please know that our investigations continue and we’re doing everything we can if you’ve been involved in this kind of criminal destruction to identify you, to find you, to arrest you, and to hold you accountable.”

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.