Columbia man arrested, charged with inciting riot during Saturday protest
Editor’s note: based on earlier information released by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, an earlier version of this story misidentified the 2nd man seen in the video with Watson.
Another arrest has been made from the rioting that broke out in downtown Columbia on Saturday after a march protesting the police killing of a black man.
Joseph Watson, 20, is accused of joining another man in tearing down a chain link fence along Lincoln Street after some in the protest march engaged in clashes with police. He was arrested Friday by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and faces charges of inciting a riot and aggravated breach of the peace.
Watson was identified from video released by the sheriff’s department on Thursday, which show another man, identified as Marshall French, tearing down the fencing while a burning car can be seen in the background. Barnard was arrested on Thursday, the sheriff’s department said.
On Thursday, French was arrested and accused of smashing glass doors at the Aloft Hotel on Lady Street. French was identified from images widely shared on social media.
Watson’s arrest follows four others announced by the sheriff and Columbia Police Department on Thursday, including at least one man identified as being part of the Boogaloo movement, an anti-government group whose members are known for wearing Hawaiian shirts.
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 12:05 PM.
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