Six youths between 12 and 17 years old were arrested Tuesday after a Gateway Transit Center security guard was attacked in Northeast Portland, police say.

Portland police said the private security officer asked two of the youths to stop smoking on the TriMet platform. An altercation ensued, and the security officer was pushed to the ground, punched and spat on several times by various youths, according to police.

A bystander stepped in and was also spat on, police said. Police officers arrived and apprehended the primary aggressors, authorities said. Several of the involved youths fled.

The security officer wasn’t seriously hurt.

Five boys between 12 and 17 were booked into a juvenile detention center on various charges. A 14-year-old girl was booked on a previous warrant, according to police.

Records indicate two of the boys booked into the detention center had been reported missing prior to their arrests, police said.

A seventh child was detained and released to his parents. He had been missing, as well.

The Oregonian/OregonLive generally doesn’t identify juveniles accused of crimes unless they’re tried as adults or face Measure 11 charges.

Police urge anyone who has information to contact Sgt. Jessy Brown at 503-962-7566 or jessy.brown@portlandoregon.gov.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

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