SALT LAKE CITY – A federal complaint unsealed Wednesday charges a fifth individual with one count of using fire and explosives to damage and destroy a Salt Lake City Police Department patrol car during May 30, 2020, riots in Salt Lake City.  

Larry Raynold Williams, Jr., 22, of West Haven was arrested at his home Wednesday morning on the arson charge by the FBI and members of its Joint Terrorism Task Force.  The Air Force Office of Special Investigations at Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) assisted the FBI.  According to the complaint, Williams is an Airman First Class in the U.S. Air Force.  He is stationed at HAFB in northern Utah.

During the afternoon of May 30, 2020, a peaceful protest in downtown Salt Lake City transitioned into acts of destruction, property damage, arson, and other criminal conduct. During the riot, a Salt Lake City police officer, driving a police vehicle, became boxed-in and immobilized by surrounding protestors.  Fearing for her safety, the officer fled from her patrol car. Her patrol vehicle was subsequently overturned, vandalized, looted, and then set on fire.  Video footage from the event shows individual rioters using fire and explosives to damage and destroy the police vehicle. Federal prosecutors in Utah have filed arson charges against five individuals allegedly responsible for burning the patrol vehicle.

“Since May 30, investigators and prosecutors have engaged in a determined investigation of those who were responsible for burning the police patrol car in downtown Salt Lake City. Our intent has been to bring consequence to the lawlessness that we witnessed. While available video and photographs played a prominent role in the investigation, solid investigative efforts by agents and detectives made the difference in these arrests,” U.S. Attorney John W. Huber said today.

According to the complaint, video footage from the afternoon of May 30, 2020, shows a white male, later identified by law enforcement as Christopher Isidro Rojas, standing next to an African American male.  This individual, subsequently identified by law enforcement as Williams, was dressed in a black Nike hoodie, black Nike sweatpants, black shoes, and a black gas mask.

Rojas was observed holding a blue cigarette lighter in his hands while Williams held a white combustible fabric material, similar to a tablecloth or bedsheet, according to the complaint.  Rojas used the cigarette lighter to ignite the fabric. Once the fabric began to burn, the complaint alleges Williams threw the material into the window of the overturned patrol car.  The burning material landed partially within the interior of the patrol car and partially on the street.

Williams was wearing a gasmask. Investigators subsequently identified the gas mask worn by Williams as an M50 Joint Service General Protective Mask. Clarified photographs of Williams wearing the mask revealed lettering on its attached M61 filter canister, written in what appeared to be white marker, which stated, “TRNG ONLY.” A lot number was also observed on the canister, according to the complaint.

Williams was also observed unmasked at the riot. Law enforcement officers were able to use several photographs to identify Williams.   

Williams was identified as an Airman First Class in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Hill Air Force Base.  He was issued an M50 gas mask by his unit for training purposes in March 2020. Markings on the mask are consistent with the markings applied at HAFB. On Aug. 13, 2020, the readiness squadron at HAFB conducted a general inventory check of equipment issued to Williams and other members of his group during an exercise.  According to the complaint, serial/lot numbers were documented for each inventoried item.  The lot number for one of the gas canisters assigned to Williams was identical to the number observed on the gas mask as depicted in pictures taken at the riot. 

Williams will make an initial appearance on the arson charge at 3 p.m. Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead.

Federal arson charges in the case are pending against Jackson Stuart Tamowski Patton, 26, Latroi Devon Newbins, 28, Christopher Rojas, 28, and Lateesha Richards, 24,  all of Salt Lake City, who were charged earlier.  Patton and Richards are in custody. Newbins and Rojas have been released on conditions of pretrial release. Previous complaints filed against Patton, Newbins, Rojas, and Richards have been consolidated in a one-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on July 23, 2020.

Complaints and indictments are not findings of guilt.  Individuals charged in complaints or indictments are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court. Arson carries a potential sentence of 20 years in prison with a minimum-mandatory five-year sentence.   

Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case. Investigating agencies include members of the FBI’s JTTF, the Salt Lake City Police Department, the ATF and the Utah Department of Public Safety. 

SALT LAKE CITY – A federal complaint unsealed Tuesday charges a fourth individual with one count of arson for using fire to destroy a Salt Lake City Police Department vehicle during May 30, 2020, riots in Salt Lake City.

An arrest warrant was issued for Lateesha Richards, also known as Lateesha Kahryn Ritchards, 24, of Salt Lake City on June 18, 2020. While she has yet to turn herself in to the U.S. Marshals Service, she appeared via Zoom with her attorney for an initial appearance Wednesday afternoon.  U.S. Magistrate Judge Jared Bennett found her to be a danger to the community and ordered her detained pending trial.  He ordered her to turn herself in by Friday morning.            

During the afternoon of May 30, 2020, a peaceful protest in downtown Salt Lake City transitioned into acts of destruction, property damage, arson, and other criminal conduct. During the riot, a Salt Lake City police officer, driving a police vehicle, became boxed-in and immobilized by surrounding protestors.  Fearing for her safety, the officer fled from her patrol car. Her patrol vehicle was subsequently overturned, vandalized, looted, and then set on fire.  Video footage from the event shows individual rioters using fire and explosives to damage and destroy the police vehicle.

At the detention hearing Wednesday afternoon, federal prosecutors told the court that approximately 200 rounds of ammunition for a handgun and 90 rounds of rifle ammunition were in the car when the officer was forced to it. Video shown as evidence during the detention hearing shows the ammunition exploding during the fire.

Federal authorities are filing arson charges against those allegedly responsible for burning the patrol vehicle.

Video footage from the riot shows an individual, later identified by police as Richards, holding a cell phone in her right hand as she walks toward the overturned police car. Richards is then observed taking a selfie with the burning police car as the background. Richards walked away from the patrol car momentarily and then returned to the patrol car holding what appears to be an item of clothing in her right hand. The complaint alleges she bent down facing the burning patrol car and tossed the item onto the small flames before running away.

The complaint alleges the clothing item Richards threw onto the fire acted as kindling and increased the size of flames.  Shortly after, the vehicle becomes engulfed in flames. According to the complaint, Richards returned to the area with Latroi Newbins, another defendant in the arson case, to take more selfies with the burning police car in the background. Law enforcement officers identified Richards based on her driver’s license photo, a booking photo, and a neck tattoo, according to the complaint.  

Federal arson charges in the case are also pending against Jackson Stuart Tamowski Patton, 26, Latroi Devon Newbins, 28, and Christopher Rojas, 28, all of Salt Lake City, who were charged earlier.  Patton remains in custody. Newbins and Rojas have been released on conditions of pretrial release. In addition to complaints filed in the case, Patton, Newbins, Rojas and Richards are charged with arson in a one-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on July 23, 2020. 

Complaints and indictments are not findings of guilt.  Individuals charged in a complaint or indictment are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court. Arson carries a potential sentence of 20 years in prison with a minimum-mandatory five-year sentence.    

Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case. Investigating agencies include members of the FBI’s JTTF, the Salt Lake City Police Department, the ATF and the Utah Department of Public Safety. 

SALT LAKE CITY – A federal complaint unsealed this week charges a third individual with one count of arson for allegedly setting fire to a Salt Lake City Police Department vehicle during May 30, 2020, riots in Salt Lake City.

Christopher Isidro Rojas, 28, of Salt Lake City was taken into custody Friday by members of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) as he left his apartment.  Law enforcement officers executed a traffic stop after he got into a car.           

The complaint alleges that on the afternoon of May 30, 2020, a peaceful protest in downtown Salt Lake City transitioned into acts of destruction and violence.  Rioters near the Salt Lake City library overturned a Salt Lake City Police Department patrol car.  Moments later, rioters set the patrol car on fire. Video footage from the event shows individuals using fire to damage and completely destroy the car. Federal authorities are charging the arson cases. 

According to the complaint, video footage from the event shows an individual, later identified by police as Rojas. The complaint alleges Rojas used a cigarette lighter to help another man, holding white fabric, light the fabric on fire. Once the fabric begins to burn, the other man threw the burning fabric toward the overturned police car.  According to the complaint, the burning cloth landed partially in the interior of the patrol car and partially on the street. Rojas is later recorded on video at the riot stating “I put the cop car on fire.  It didn’t blow up.”

In the weeks after the riot, the Salt Lake City Police Department, according to the complaint, sought help from the public identifying the man who claimed to have “put the car on fire.” The FBI in Salt Lake City also offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two arson suspects – up to $12,500 per suspect. Law enforcement officers received tips identifying Rojas. 

Federal arson charges in the case are pending against Jackson Stuart Tamowski Patton, 26, and Latroi Devon Newbins, 28, both of Salt Lake City, who were charged earlier.  Patton remains in custody.  Although federal prosecutors requested Newbins be detained as well, he has been released from custody. 

A complaint is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged in a complaint are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial.  The charge in the complaint has a potential sentence of 20 years in prison with a minimum-mandatory sentence of five years.   

U.S. Attorney John W. Huber expressed appreciation for the coordinated effort local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies are providing as a part of the investigation. “Utah law enforcement has a strong history of working together.  The investigation surrounding the burning of the patrol car is an excellent example of agencies playing to their strengths, giving us the tools we need to investigate and prosecute this criminal conduct.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case. Investigating agencies include members of the FBI’s JTTF, the Salt Lake City Police Department, the ATF and the Utah Department of Public Safety. U.S. Marshals, who are members of the JTTF, assisted with the arrest of Rojas.

SALT LAKE CITY – A federal complaint filed in federal court Wednesday morning charges Jackson Stuart Tamowski Patton of Salt Lake City with one count of arson for allegedly setting fire to a Salt Lake City Police Department vehicle during protests in Salt Lake City Saturday.

The complaint alleges that after rioters overturned a Salt Lake City patrol car during a protest in downtown Salt Lake City Saturday, the patrol car was set on fire.  According to the complaint, video footage from the riot shows Patton tossing a combustible substance onto the flames causing the flames to increase.  The fire destroyed the patrol car.

Salt Lake City police officers arrested Patton, age 26, Tuesday night at a protest event in Salt Lake City.  An initial appearance in federal court will be set later.

The complaint and arrest were announced today by John W. Huber, U.S. Attorney for Utah; Chief Mike Brown of the Salt Lake City Police Department; Paul H. Haertel, Special Agent in Charge of the Salt Lake City FBI; David Booth, ATF Special Agent in Charge for Utah; and Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Jess L. Anderson.

“We value and support the rights we all enjoy to peacefully demonstrate and advocate for our beliefs.  However, we have zero tolerance for those who hijack peaceful protests and commit violations of federal law,” U.S. Attorney John W. Huber said today.  “Those involved in this criminal behavior – including the conduct alleged in this complaint – should know that we will use every available tool we have to hold them accountable.”

“Our detectives worked tirelessly to ascertain the identities of numerous perpetrators of violence and destruction in our city. We too are committed to bringing to justice those who attempted to interrupt the peaceful protest,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said today. “We appreciate the partnerships we share with our federal agencies, to make sure that, through our shared resources, we are able to bring the correct judgment to these criminals.”

A complaint is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged in a complaint are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial.  The charge in the complaint has a potential sentence of 20 years in prison with a minimum sentence of five years.