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Portland police and protesters got into a tense shoving match at Southwest Sixth Avenue and Yamhill Street late Thursday afternoon as officers tried to clear the roadway, and officers ended up using pepper spray to get control of the crowd.

Tensions between officers and protesters began to rise about 4:25 p.m. when police warned protesters that anyone in the street would be arrested. A minute later police sprayed the crowd.

The crowd became enraged, throwing objects at police and screaming at police, "Who do you serve? Who do you protect? Multiple protesters could be seen pouring water in their eyes trying to clear the spray.

Then the crowd quieted, and things are now calm.

Updates from The Oregonian:

5:36 p.m.:

Protesters have hung a string of pinatas filled with fake money in Pioneer Courthouse square which they are hitting with sticks. About 150 to 200 are still in the square, hanging out until the movement holds a general assembly meeting.

5:20 p.m.:

Crowd still at 6/Yamhill, but doesn't seem to know what next move is. Numbers dwindling. #n17pdx #occcupyportland

5:13 p.m.:

SEPDXreporter: More reporters than cops at pioneer courthouse sq. #OccupyPortland

5 p.m:

Michael Hughes said he was near Southwest Sixth Avenue and Yamhill Street when police fired the pepper spray. He fell when the crowd surged back as mounted police pushed into the crowd. He hurt his hip and said he realized he wouldn’t be able to walk, so he asked for help. When paramedics arrived, they loaded him onto a rolling gurney and the crowd cheered as he was taken to the ambulance. About the same time, police began to pull back from the square, where about 500 protestors remained. They were fairly low-key -- not much cheering -- and had broken up into small groups of people, who were sitting around and talking. Meanwhile, bus and train traffic was beginning to resume along Sixth Avenue.

TriMet update:

MAX trains throughout downtown Portland are experiencing major delays due to Occupy Portland activity. TriMet is working with the police to help restore Green and Yellow MAX service to Southwest Fifth and Sixth avenues. Buses are also experiencing delays and detours. Riders should expect delays.

4:53 p.m.:

Police abruptly left, marching along Southwest Sixth Avenue. They appear to be regrouping. A bunch of people moved into the streets right after cops left, but stepped back to let the buses pass. Still fairly peaceful. They aren't stopping traffic. Police piled on their black trucks and drove off, turning a corner.

4:49p.m.:

Riot police are retreating from 6th and Yamhill.

4:47 p.m.:

The man is 81-year-old Michael Hughes of Portland. He said he fell while photographing people who were running from Portland Police after they used pepper spray.

4:43 p.m.:

Mayor Sam Adams tweets: "When we ask you to clear streets we do so for a real reason: Yamhill is a light-rail street."

4:42 p.m.:

An ambulance has arrived on Southwest Sixth Street alongside Pioneer Courthouse Square. It may have responded to reports of an elderly man who appears to have fallen on some steps in the square. An Occupy Portland medic is helping the man, who is seated on the steps.

4:42 p.m.

The Oregonian's Jeff Mapes: Now the buses are moving through on Southwest Sixth Avenue now. It looks like regular motorists are being diverted. The Blue Line Max is going through. I haven't seen the north-south train go through yet.

Police are keeping everybody on the sidewalks.

4:38 p.m.:

Portland Police Lt. Robert King explaining why use of pepper spray: Our officers are engaged with people in the crowd. If a group of people, if they leave, if we can be confident the area will stay clear, we will often pull our resources back. Our police is you can use the level of force necessary for what you are encountering.

The Oregonian's Jeff Mapes: They are diverting all the traffic off the transit mall past Taylor. It's a mess. Buses and cars are being diverted off the transit mall.

4:36 p.m.:

Portland police Lt. Robert King: The streets around Pioneer Courthouse Square are going to be congested. We were hoping the crowd had dissipated. But more and more people came into the area and there was an exchange, there was a use of force. Given the increased size of the crowd, we believe it was appropriate to establish a perimeter around the square to insure traffic can move safely through the area.

4:33 p.m.:

Police Lt. Robert King said the confrontation at Sixth and Yamill apparently developed when police wanted to move people off the street and MAX tracks at rush hour. He said people were slow to respond. At least one person was pepper-sprayed. "Our ultimate goal is to preserve lanes for people and TriMet. Our concern was more and more people would make their way into the street."

4:33 p.m.:

Now people are lined up the sidewalk and the cops are lining up the other side. It was just like a burst. The cops ran down the street. EVeryone is just standing. The crowd is angry and yelling.

4:31 p.m.:

Police are on the run down the street. Protesters are running. They are pushing using batons.

4:10 p.m.:

Police Chief Mike Reese said the roving protest today went well, but he was concerned when people pushed into the street in places. "As long as folks are peaceful, we will continue to work with them," he said. He noted that his officers are tired and that the Police Bureau has had to "staff up" for the demonstrations, taking officers away from other work in the city and leaving them only to respond to emergencies. For instance, he said, a rape victim had to wait three hours before talking to an officer. "It was a long, long day," he said.

-- The Oregonian