A woman has been charged after appearing on Facebook Live and encouraging her followers to loot and destroy businesses during a Michigan protest.
The 22-year-old, Alexandria “Ally” Lyons, was charged with inciting a riot and malicious destruction. According to her arrest affidavit, Lyons is heard in the video telling her followers to throw bricks and other objects at the windows of businesses.
On Saturday, around 100 businesses in downtown Grand Rapids were looted, seven police vehicles were set on fire, along with several dumpster fires that spread to nearby structures.
MLive reports that police to have Lyons on video, kicking a hole into the front window of a store, causing the whole thing to shatter. She can be heard in the video, encouraging people to break into an ATM and is also on seen, accompanied by her friends, stealing from a jewelry store where the glass display was shattered. The group of friends then helped themselves to beers from Mojo’s Dueling Piano Bar and Restaurant and photographed themselves in the act.
In the affidavit, authorities say, “the defendant could be heard telling her friends to get her a gold bracelet because she already has silver ones.” Lyons later posted a video of her wearing the stolen clothing, and a stolen shirt was found in her home.
Police say, seven people were arrested during the riots, but only two are currently facing charges. One of them being Lyon. If convicted, she could face up to 15 years in prison.
