(Seattle) -  A 19-year-old Alaska man was charged with arson today for the fire he set Monday, August 24, 2020 at the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.  DESMOND DAVID-PITTS was arrested shortly after the fire following a Monday night protest march. DAVID-PITTS appeared today in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

“This is the fourth defendant to appear in federal court after being charged with criminal conduct that went far beyond any peaceful protest,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Moran. “Those who go to protest but choose violence and criminal acts over protected speech will face the full weight of federal criminal sanctions.  This illegal conduct must end.”

“The intentional fire set Monday evening in an organized, pre-planned attack endangered the lives of our officers and our entire community.  This was not a peaceful protest, or demonstration for equity, but an act of lawlessness.  We are grateful our federal partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office recognize the criminal nature of these acts and are holding those responsible accountable,” said Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best.

Deputy Chief Adrian Diaz promised to maintain the SPD’s federal partnerships as he takes command of the Department and added “We are hopeful that the federal charges now filed against Mr. David-Pitts will serve as a warning that crimes of violence will not be tolerated in Seattle.”

According to the criminal complaint, DAVID-PITTS had arrived in Seattle from Alaska just three days before Monday’s protest.  After marching with the group in downtown Seattle, DAVID-PITTS is seen on surveillance video piling up trash against the sally-port door at the Seattle Police East Precinct.  Over an eleven minute period the surveillance video captures DAVID-PITTS not only piling up the trash, but repeatedly lighting it on fire and feeding the flames with more trash.  While DAVID-PITTS was lighting the fire, other people who appeared on the surveillance were attempting to use crowbars and cement-like materials to try to disable the door next to the sally-port to prevent officers from exiting the building.  At various times DAVID-PITTS appeared to be communicating with the others.  Despite efforts to disable the door, officers were able to get outside and extinguish the flames.  A similarly equipped group set a second fire around the corner from the DAVID-PITTS arson, and DAVID-PITTS was seen on surveillance working with the others to cut through a chain-link fence that was a barrier around the building.  The second fire was extinguished by Seattle Police Officers and members of the Seattle Fire Department.

DAVID-PITTS was identified less than an hour later in the crowd outside the precinct because of the distinctive pink camouflage trousers he was wearing.  He was arrested without incident.

Three people have already been charged with federal crimes in connection to civil unrest:

On July 15, Isaiah Thomas Willoughby was charged with arson in connection with a fire set at the East Precinct.

On June 11, Margaret Aislinn Channon was charged with arson for setting five Seattle Police vehicles on fire.

On June 10, Devinare Antwan Parker was charged with possessing a destructive device for bringing an improvised firearm to a protest.

Arson is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison and up to twenty years in prison.

The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Seattle Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.

david-pitts_complaint.pdf

Seattle – A former Seattle resident, who most recently resided in Tacoma, was arrested July 14, 2020, on a federal arson charge for setting fire to the outside of the Seattle Police East Precinct during the occupied protest known as ‘CHOP’, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.  ISAIAH THOMAS WILLOUGHBY, 35, will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 2:30 p.m. today.

“This is the third case we have charged federally for the criminal acts that tainted otherwise peaceful protests.  Other crimes remain under investigation and may result in additional federal charges,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.  “Those who worked to turn protests into riots will not escape accountability for their criminal conduct.” 

According to the criminal complaint, in the early morning hours of June 12, 2020, a person in distinctive clothing was captured on surveillance video near debris piled next to the wall of the Seattle Police East Precinct.  In the video, the suspect appears to use a small can, similar to a gas can, to pour a liquid on the debris.  The suspect steps out of frame, then appears to return with something that he lights on fire and tosses on the debris pile.  The pile begins to burn, and the suspect walks away.  The fire scorched the side of the building, but was extinguished by those nearby using fire extinguishers, and pulling the flaming debris from the building. 

After the Seattle Police Department released pictures of the arson suspect, various people recognized him as WILLOUGHBY and noted that the distinctive sweatshirt came from a clothing line he represents.  Relatives of WILLOUGHBY reported to police that he was in Seattle in the Capitol Hill Organized Protest Zone (CHOP) at the time of the fire.  Following the fire, WILLOUGHBY took steps to remove posts from his social media accounts that may have linked him to the arson.  However, at least some of his FaceBook posts remain, noting his anger at police and his knowledge of the East Precinct building. 

WILLOUGHBY was originally arrested and charged in state court.  WILLOUGHBY was arrested last night without incident at a Seattle residence.

“We support every American’s right to protest,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.  “But when someone turns to an act of violence, putting many lives in danger, ATF will work to ensure he or she is held accountable.”

“This defendant’s actions are another example, seen many times around the country, where recent peaceful protests and their message, were overshadowed by violence. In this case, he will have to answer for it,” said Raymond Duda, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Seattle.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged two other defendants with crimes related to the civil unrest in May and June 2020.  Margaret Aislinn Channon is charged with five counts of arson for setting police vehicles on fire the evening of May 30, 2020.  Devinare Antwan Parker is charged with possession of an improvised destructive device for the improvised firearm he brought to a protest on May 31, 2020.

Arson is punishable by a mandatory minimum 5 years in prison and up to 20 years in prison.

The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the FBI and the Seattle Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.

willoughby_complaint.pdf