Rantz: Rioters tried to burn Seattle police alive, sealed door during fire at East Precinct
Aug 25, 2020, 2:07 PM | Updated: Aug 26, 2020, 4:04 pm
(Photo courtesy of SPD)
Seattle rioters used a substance suspected to be quick-dry concrete to seal shut the door to the East Precinct, the Seattle Police Department has confirmed. At the same time, rioters attempted to set fire to the building. Photos reviewed by the Jason Rantz Show show the concrete mix and tools used.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is now working with the Seattle Police Department on this investigation.
Rioters assaulted Seattle’s East Precinct on Monday night. This marked another night of violent, criminal activism against police officers unconnected to anger over a recent police shooting in Wisconsin.
Criminals tried to murder Seattle police
As some in the crowd vandalized the building and tormented police, others brought quick-dry cement to seal police officers inside the building.
The criminals at the 12th Avenue entrance reportedly mixed what is suspected to be cement mix and water in a bucket with a wooden stick before applying it to the door. Photos show the criminals also destroyed the electronic key card off the door, presumably to stop people from getting inside the building.
On the East Pine Street side of the East Precinct, the criminals started a fire. The intent appeared to be to burn the building with the officers inside.
A source tells me the officers inside had to kick the door open to exit the building and disperse the rioters. Luckily, already lacking discernible skills, the rioters did not follow directions and may have used too much water in the cement mixture. Photos indicate it was too runny to fully seal the doorway shut.
One officer was injured and one suspect was arrested.
Here's new video purportedly showing criminals trying to set fire to Seattle's East Precinct last night, after trying to cement the door to the building closed, knowing cops were inside.
READ: https://t.co/NXfkmV4BOE pic.twitter.com/X89pNWvRPt
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) August 26, 2020
#Seattle tonight pic.twitter.com/X7NqOE4V5B
— Kitty Shackleford (@KittyLists) August 25, 2020
Police union weighs in against ‘domestic terrorists’
Seattle Police Officers Guild president Mike Solan is condemning the crime, along with the lack of response from city leaders.
“It’s clear that domestic terrorists are continuing to hold our great city hostage by their criminal acts,” Solan tells the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH. “We’re talking about a little over 100 people who continue to force their political agenda to push assaults on officers, destroy private and public property, to continue their dangerous ideology. What’s next has been seen before and I’m fearful that someone will lose their life in the coming days. This could all stop if our public officials would decry and push back against these criminal acts.”
UPDATE, 8/26:
Police have arrested Desmond David-Pitts in connection with the arson. David-Pitts reportedly confessed the crime to police, and was booked into King County Jail for first-degree arson.
He was scheduled for a court appearance in King County Wednesday, before federal authorities stepped in to inform the county prosecutor’s office that they planned on pursuing first-degree arson charges at the federal level.
David-Pitts is being transferred into federal custody as a result. If for any reason federal authorities decide not to proceed with charges, the King County Prosecutor’s Office plans to move forward with charges of its own.
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