Man Arrested For Allegedly Burning SLC Police Car During Protest

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A 26-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly setting fire to a Salt Lake City police vehicle during Saturday’s protests, officials announced.

A 21-year-old protester had turned himself in to police on Monday and Chief Mike Brown with the Salt Lake City Police Department announced a third suspect had turned themself in on Wednesday.

“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 on Wednesday. “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.”

Jackson Patton, of Salt Lake City, was arrested Tuesday night on one federal count of arson affecting interstate commerce. The charge carries a potential sentence of 20 years in prison with a minimum sentence of five years.

According to a federal complaint filed Wednesday, video footage from Saturday’s protest showed Patton throwing a combustible substance on the patrol vehicle, causing flames to increase.

The car was destroyed by the fire.

“They weren’t here to send a peaceful message or even shout a peaceful message they were here to hijack and take advantage of an opportunity. they are opportunists,” Huber said. “They hijacked otherwise a well-intentioned protest and stripped it of its credibility.”

Huber said the second suspect, who was later identified as Latroi Devon Newbins, of Salt Lake City, will face the same charges as Patton.

“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,” Brown said. “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.”

“Those who are going to do this kind of violence like Jackson Patton will be arrested and it will not be tolerated,” Brown added.