Denver officials denounce “anarchists” who damaged property, set fires during anti-police demonstration
City and state officials on Sunday decried the actions of about 75 people who started fires, broke windows, injured a police officer and damaged property Saturday night during an “Abolish the Police” protest outside the Denver Police Department’s headquarters.
Those arrestedand their charges: Timothy Wempen, 22, aggravated assault; Jordan White, 19, criminal mischief; Bailey Yntema, 23, throwing missiles; Tigran Manukyan, 29, possession of a dangerous weapon. Eight people were charged with obstruction: Jacob Anikow, 20; Miriam Schwarz, 20; Aaron Jones, 21; Isabelle Bullock, 18; Devlin Baker, 27; Stephen Merida, 20, Jill Hunsaker, 29, and Marianne Byrne, 19. Gabriel Hernandez, 32, was cited for interference but not physically arrested.
Pazen said additional charges are expected. One officer suffered third-degree burns and a concussion during the clash, but is expected to make a full recovery, Pazen said.
Of those arrested, seven live in Denver, two in Boulder County and police do not know the addresses of the remaining people.
The group members were not protesters but rioters and anarchists, city officials said at a news conference, vowing to bring down the full force of the law against the demonstrators and to stop any similar future actions.
“What we experienced last night wasnot a protest, it was anarchy,” Denver Director of Safety Murphy Robinson said. “The people who showed up last night — the anarchists who showed up last night — brought weapons to the table. They had guns, they brought explosives, axes, machetes. And they had one intended purpose: to harm our officers.”
In a tweet, Gov. Jared Polis called the demonstrators’ actions — and in particular windows broken at a Quiznos restaurant during the demonstration — “criminal terrorism.”
Hancock said the city will seek to force those who caused property damage to pay for repairs, whether through the criminal cases or through civil action.
The city has not yet linked Saturday night’s demonstration to any one group or organization,Hancocksaid, but he also suggested the gathering in Denver is part of a larger effort across the country.
“We know there is a coordinated effort to inflict these kind of riotous activities in cities,” he said. “We saw some of it last night in Chicago and other cities. Other cities are picking up intel that they may be next.”
He said mayors across the country are sharing information and suggested that demonstrators could face federal charges.
https://www.denverpost.com/2020/08/23/denver-riot-protest-vandalism-police-hancock/