Chief Skinner says they chose loss of property over loss of life Friday night

Chief Skinner says they chose loss of property over loss of life Friday night

We're hearing more from police tonight... about why they weren't front and center..

During friday night's riots.

Kezi 9 news reporter emma withrow spoke with police chief chris skinner --about their reasoning for not getting involved sooner,.

For hours chaos swept through the streets right here in downtown eugene friday night.... fires were burning and stores were looted but firemen and police were no where to be seen.

Why?

Is what i asked chief skinner today.... his response what that they decided to hold off on getting involved because they believed there would be loss of life if they did..... so they decided to choose loss of property..... a decision which left business owners to fend for themselves.

And some of them did.... a friend of the manager of the stereo store rushed to the businesses defense once he realized the violence and destruction starting.

He stood and guarded the store front from 10 pm until 5 in the morning.

But he didnt just ask the rioters nicely to refrane from breakiny the windows and vandalizing.

He was prepared to defend himself if they decided to choose that route.

He was down here and he was strapped and ready to protect what he needed to and he said look everybody needs to stay away dont come in here don break windows.

Dont do anything and he made everyone stay away, the owners of the urban vapor store they were telling everyone to stay away, the owners of the growlers they were telling people to stay away so?

And for the businesses who werent lucky enough to defend themselves chief skinner said the eugene police has created a task force to analyze video and first hand accounts of the rioters who caused the destruction to these innocent local businesses.

Right here is where the friend of the manager of the stereo store stood for almost 7 hours guarding this locally owned store, and shawn evens told me the employees here are extremely grateful to him when police