Police announce 12 more arrests related to violent protests in downtown Columbia
Police have arrested a dozen more people in connection to the protests that occurred May 30 in downtown Columbia after peaceful demonstrations gave way to incidents of rioting.
Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook and Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced in a press release that they made the arrests after identifying suspects with the help of Crimestoppers tips and after reviewing body camera and surveillance videos.
Those arrested face a variety of different charges, including instigating a riot, looting, arson, illegal acts during a state of emergency and breach of peace. The alleged crimes took place May 30 and 31 at Columbia Police Headquarters, Green’s Beverage Outlet, Carolina Western Pub and the 800 block of Hampton Street. All those arrested have been booked at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
Violence erupted in the Vista district on the evening of May 30 after a day of peaceful protests at the S.C. State House in response to police brutality and racism after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. Several police cars were burned outside Columbia PD headquarters, businesses in the Vista had windows smashed in by rocks, and at least one man was assaulted before an emergency curfew was declared.
Law enforcement used riot gear, tear gas, smoke canisters and other measures, sweeping through the Vista. More than a dozen people were arrested by Sunday morning, and more were later identified and arrested.
The latest arrests, announced Thursday, include:
- Andre Brown: Burglary (third degree), criminal conspiracy, instigating a riot, illegal acts during a state of emergency, looting, malicious injury to property, breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature
- Richard Cook: Instigating a riot, illegal acts during state of emergency, looting, breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature
- Lakendra Cornelius: Breach of peace, instigating a riot, malicious injury to personal property
- Riley Davis: Burglary (third degree), criminal conspiracy, instigating a riot, illegal acts during a state of emergency, looting
- Solomon Dunbar: Breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature, instigating a riot, assault (third degree), illegal acts during a state of emergency
- Datrion Gamble: Breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature, instigating a riot
- Jakese Hagans: Burglary (second degree), illegal acts during a state of emergency
- Andre Hair: Breach of peace of a high & aggravated nature, instigating a riot, malicious injury to real property
- Andre Lykes: Breach of peace of a high & aggravated nature, instigating a riot, possession of burglary tools, criminal conspiracy, malicious injury to real property
- Malcolm Price: Instigating a riot, breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature, illegal acts during a state of emergency
- Abriana Ross: Breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature, instigating a riot, possession of burglary tools, criminal conspiracy, malicious injury to real property
- Marcelo Woods: Arson (third degree), auto-breaking, illegal acts during a state of emergency
