MINNEAPOLIS _ A former Menards store security guard was charged Monday with arson that damaged the Minneapolis Police Department's 3rd Precinct building following the May 25 killing of George Floyd in police custody.
Branden M. Wolfe, 23, of St. Paul, is the first person to be charged in connection with the 3rd Precinct building fire. Hundreds of businesses were damaged in south Minneapolis and St. Paul in the aftermath of Floyd's death on Memorial Day.
The 3rd Precinct was overrun and heavily damage from vandalism and arson May 28. Investigators identified several separate fires that had been started in the building. In an interview with law enforcement, Wolfe admitted to being inside the 3rd Precinct the night of the arson.
He took property from the building and pushed a wooden barrel into the fire, according to the criminal complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul. Wolfe also identified himself in several photographs depicting himself in front of the 3rd Precinct holding a police baton, with smoke and flames visible in the background.
In his statement to law enforcement, Wolfe confirmed that he pushed a wooden barrel into the fire, knowing that it would help keep the fire burning, according to the criminal complaint. Investigators recovered charred metal barrel rings from the scene.
Wolfe was arrested Wednesday after St. Paul police received a complaint that he was trying to enter the Menards home improvement store on University Avenue. He had been a security guard at the store, but has been fired earlier Wednesday after he referred to social media posts about him stealing items from the 3rd Precinct.
When he was arrested, Wolfe was wearing body armor and a police-issued duty belt and carrying a baton. The belt had handcuffs and a knife, and his name was written in duct tape on the back of the body armor, the complaint says.
Law enforcement later recovered from Wolfe's apartment additional items belonging to the Minneapolis Police Department, including a riot helmet, a 9 mm pistol magazine, a police radio, and a police-issue overdose kit.
Wolfe has been convicted of a petty misdemeanor trespass charge and interfering with a 911 call, which is a gross misdemeanor. On the 911 case, charges of domestic assault, property damage, trespass and disorderly conduct were dismissed. He is on probation in that case until September 2021.
Wolfe is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday afternoon.
The 3rd Precinct building at 3000 Minnehaha Ave. is currently unoccupied and there is no timeline to repair it, said Police Department spokesman John Elder.
The ATF and FBI urge the public to report suspected arson, use of explosive devices or destructive acts associated with the recent unrest. Anyone with information specifically related to the 3rd Precinct fire or other business fires in the Twin Cities can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), e-mail ATFTips@atf.gov or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com.
In addition to fires, the FBI is looking for people who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALLFBI (800-225-5342) or submit images or videos at FBI.gov/violence.
