St. Paul Man Charged With Aiding And Abetting Arson In Connection To Minneapolis Police Station Fire

A 23-year-old man was brought up on federal charges in connection with the fire set at the Third Precinct in Minneapolis during the riots that broke out after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer.

Branden M. Wolfe is charged with aiding and abetting arson in connection with the fire set on May 28, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota said in a statement, according to CNN.

The police station was heavily damaged in the fire.

Wolfe was arrested on June 3 while wearing body armor, a police-issued duty belt with handcuffs, an earphone piece, a baton, and knife, all stolen from the Third Precinct, after St. Paul officers were called to a home improvement store.

Wolfe, who was a former employee of the store, had been let go earlier that same day after he posted to social media about stealing items from the police station.

A search of Wolfe’s apartment turned up more stolen police gear, and Wolfe admitted to being in the precinct and taking police property but not igniting the fire. He did admit to rolling a wooden barrel into the fire in the hopes that it would “make the fire bigger and help keep the fire burning,” according to the statement.

Wolfe is expected to make his initial appearance in court today.