Far-right activist and a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter Jake Lang was among 11 people who were arrested on Saturday afternoon following a demonstration that turned violent outside Minneapolis City Hall as Lang and others clashed with counter-protesters.
Lang, 31, who was charged earlier this year with a bias crime in Minnesota after kicking over a "Prosecute ICE" ice-sculpture outside the State Capitol, was taken into custody by Bloomington Police on Saturday for probable cause riot. As of Monday morning, he was still being held at the Hennepin County Jail without bond.
According to Minneapolis police, Lang, whose real name is Edward, and six others arrived outside City Hall at 11:50 a.m. on Saturday. His group drove two vehicles illegally onto the sidewalk adjacent to City Hall and traveled slowly toward a crowd gathered on the sidewalk.
"Any time there is crowds of people gathered, the last thing we want to see is vehicles driving towards them when we don't know their full intentions," said interim Minneapolis Police Chief, Bill Peterson, who spoke during a Saturday afternoon press conference.
MPD officers arrived outside City Hall after a chemical irritant, believed to be mace, was deployed and worked to move Lang and his group off the sidewalk, away from the crowd.
"Officers were struck by thrown objects while removing the vehicles from the area and after the vehicles departed," according to the MPD news release.
"If you're going to come in here, drive on the sidewalks, incite a riot, and be a problem for people's safety, then you're gonna get arrested," Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said.
The Minnesota State Patrol stopped one of the involved vehicles near Washington Avenue and southbound I-35W. Three people inside were arrested for probable cause riot and the car was impounded.
Those arrested and booked into the Hennepin County Jail were:
- Eric Wayne Dawson, 53
- Stephen Edward Major, 42
- Matthew Pike Oduguwa, 33 — Oduguwa was transported to a hospital for evaluation of chest pain and was booked into the Hennepin County Jail after he was medically cleared.
- Charles Oscar Miles Jr., 73
- John William-Kei Irwin, 32
- Jayden Daniel Scott, 23
- Edward Jacob Lang, 31 — Lang was transported to a hospital for evaluation of an apparent non-life-threatening injury that was not related to his arrest. He was booked into the Hennepin County Jail after he was medically cleared.
- Tanner Duncan, 29 — arrested for disorderly conduct and obstructing legal process.
- William Nicholas Love, 33 – arrested for assault.
- Matthew Norby, 37 — arrested on probable cause riot. Norby was transported to a hospital for evaluation of chest pain and was booked into the Hennepin County Jail after he was medically cleared.
- Lucas Kaducak, 22 — arrested for disorderly conduct.
As of Monday morning, eight of the 11 who were arrested remained in custody without bail.
Tanner Duncan, William Love, and Lucas Kaducak are all scheduled to appear in court on September 4th.
Three Minneapolis police officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the incident outside City Hall. More charges are possible.
Lang was among 11 people arrested Saturday afternoon
Lang was among 11 people arrested Saturday afternoon
