2 charged for alleged Molotov cocktail possession at LA protests

LOS ANGELES (NewsNation) — Two Southern California men look national charges for allegedly possessing Molotov cocktails during caller anti-ICE protests successful downtown Los Angeles, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

Emiliano Garduno Galvez, 23, of Paramount, and Wrackkie Quiogue, 27, of Long Beach, were charged with possession of an unregistered destructive device, which carries the anticipation of 10 years successful national prison.

Quiogue was ordered detained connected Tuesday astatine his archetypal tribunal appearance. Galvez is expected to marque their archetypal quality successful United States District Court “in the coming days,” according to a quality merchandise from the Justice Department.

“When protesting crosses the enactment into violence, the penalties volition beryllium severe,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “Possessing a Molotov cocktail oregon different destructive instrumentality is punishable by up to 10 years successful national prison. The vile attacks, specified arsenic the ones alleged successful these complaints, could person resulted successful life-altering oregon life-ending injuries to constabulary officers, sheriff’s deputies, and guiltless bystanders. We volition not relent successful dispensing swift justness to criminals who instrumentality vantage of our country’s freedoms to prosecute successful lawlessness.”

Separately, 2 radical were charged with battle connected a national officer, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 twelvemonth successful national prison, stemming from unit astatine caller rallies successful Santa Ana, according to the Justice Department.

The protests began Friday aft national migration raids arrested dozens of workers successful Los Angeles. Protesters blocked a large freeway and acceptable cars connected occurrence implicit the weekend, and constabulary responded with teardrop gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades.

Thousands of radical person peacefully rallied extracurricular City Hall, and hundreds much protested extracurricular a national analyzable that includes a detention halfway wherever immoderate immigrants are being held pursuing workplace raids.

Hundreds were arrested Tuesday arsenic thousands of National Guard troops were lasting by astatine Trump’s behest.

The bulk of arrests since the protests began person been for failing to disperse.