Three charged with instigating a riot in Columbia protests, Richland Co. Sheriff says
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department announced Tuesday that three men were charged for their roles in the protests that took place in Columbia on the weekend of May 30.
Now more than 80 people have been arrested by the Columbia Police Department and the sheriff’s department after protests were followed by clashes with law enforcement.
Javante Sterling Jackson, Magnificent Allah Rice, and David Lovett were all charged with instigating a riot and aggravated breach of peace, the sheriff’s department said in a news release.
Jackson, 27, was arrested July 2 after the sheriff’s department said he was caught on body camera throwing a water bottle at law enforcement at the steps of Columbia Police Department headquarters.
Rice, 21, was arrested Monday after he was seen on body camera video hitting the shields of deputies who were standing at the steps of the police department, according to the release.
On Tuesday, the sheriff’s department said the 54-year-old Lovett was arrested after footage showed him picking up a tear gas canister and hurling it back at law enforcement officers.
All three were arrested by the Richland County Sheriff’s Fugitive Task Force and booked into Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, according to the release. Only Lovett remained behind bars Tuesday afternoon, jail records show.
There have been protests across the U.S. in response to the death of a Black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis on May 25 while in police custody. Floyd’s death sparked national outrage after a video showed a police officer kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes before he died.
On May 30 in Columbia, what started as a peaceful protest at the State House turned violent after marchers arrived at the police department. Three police cars were set on fire and multiple area businesses were damaged.
On May 31, police in riot gear stopped protesters who were again heading for the police department. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to stop the crowd. Marchers said their protest was peaceful and the confrontation was instigated by police.
This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 12:54 PM.
