Federal prosecutors announced on June 8, 2020 that a 23 year old St. Paul man has been charged in connection with the fire at the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct. The station was set on fire during the unrest that followed the death of George Floyd.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, as reported by CNN, Branden is charged with one count of aiding and abetting arson over the fire on the night of May 28. The precinct was heavily damaged.
Prosecutors allege Branden was a security guard at a St. Paul home improvement store and was fired on June 3 after he referenced social media posts about taking items from the precinct. They say he was then found at the store wearing body armor and a police duty belt and carrying a baton, with handcuffs and a knife also recovered. Authorities say more police property was found at his apartment.
According to the statement, Branden told investigators he was inside the precinct that night and took police property, and said he did not start the fire. Prosecutors say he also admitted rolling a wooden barrel into the fire, reportedly knowing it could help keep the flames going.
His first appearance in federal court in St. Paul was scheduled for June 9. A criminal complaint is an accusation, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. A response from Branden had not been reported at the time of this post.
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