Peaceful Protest ‘Negotiator’ Accused Of Burning SLC Police Car

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A tense standoff Monday night ended peacefully after a protester negotiated with police officers in riot gear.

KSL TV carried the event live as it unfolded, which showed a man with a bullhorn asking for permission to go home and telling about 200 protesters, “We are going to do this the right way.”

The group, which had been marching for about 90 minutes past an 8 p.m. citywide curfew, was safely allowed to disperse.

KSL TV caught up with the man minutes later and he said his name is Latroi Newbins.

Latroi Newsbins is now also the name appearing on federal documents asking a judge to issue an arrest warrant for arson.

Federal prosecutors believe Newbins was among those who flipped and burned a Salt Lake City police cruiser during Saturday’s protest in downtown SLC.

Police have been hunting for those responsible ever since the incident putting out flyers asking for tips from the public.

They identified Newbins and he was arrested Wednesday.

Now, the man many have credited with helping de-escalate the end of Monday’s five-mile-long walk of civil disobedience is resting behind bars for his alleged actions 48 hours earlier.

If convicted, Newbins faces up to 20 years in federal prison with a mandatory minimum of five years.

A weeklong curfew was put in place after Saturday’s violent protest. After the peaceful end of Monday’s protest, as well as the peaceful end of a protest Tuesday night, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall lifted the curfew Wednesday.