Multnomah County sheriff’s deputies broke up a courtroom fight this week between family members of a homicide victim and the family of the man charged with his killing.
The fracas sent Circuit Judge Celia Howes and other judicial staff scurrying from the Justice Center courtroom after two women began screaming at each other during the arraignment of Damariae R. Haqq.
Haqq, 20, who appeared at the arraignment by video from Inverness Jail, is accused of gunning down 18-year-old Parnell Badon Jr. in a hotel near Portland International Airport on Nov. 17.
It’s unclear exactly who was attending the proceedings. Audio obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive captures an escalating series of taunts, curses and the shouts of a deputy attempting to break up the fight.
Chris Liedle, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, confirmed the disturbance and said medical workers evaluated two people for unspecified injuries.
“The disturbance did not impact court processes and arraignments continued when the situation was defused,” he said.
A prosecutor can be heard on the audio explaining later that Haqq’s associates had been excluded from the hearing for violating courtroom decorum.
Haqq’s attorney Kevin Sali said he didn’t know exactly how the fight erupted, but said it appeared the other side had started it.
“The associate of the decedent was confronting others, telling them where they could or could not sit,” he said.
Sali waived the right for an immediate release hearing. Haqq will remain in custody without bail.
A report of the brawl has been forwarded to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether charges should be filed.
— Zane Sparling; zsparling@oregonian.com; 503-319-7083; @pdxzane
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