Officials in Gainesville said a police car was torched outside an officer’s home days after six patrol cars were damaged during a protest.
The incident happened about 1 a.m. Tuesday, according to Gainesville. A photo posted on Facebook by the police department shows smoke rising from a marked patrol vehicle.
Five men were arrested in the case about two hours after the damaged car was discovered, Gainesville police spokeswoman Cpl. Jessica Van said. Deveccho Waller, 21, Jesse Smallwood, 21, Dashun Martin, 23, Judah Bailey, 20, and Bruce Thompson, 22, were each booked into the Hall County Jail, according to Van.
The men are also suspected of burning a grassy area near Henry Ward Way about 11 p.m. Monday night, Van said.
Credit: Hall County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Hall County Sheriff's Office
Each man faces charges of second-degree arson, terroristic threats and acts, third-degree arson, interference with government property and criminal trespass.
Waller, Thompson and Bailey each face an additional count of probation violation and Martin is charged with theft by taking, Hall jail records show.
The incident comes amid days of unrest within the city. Demonstrators gathered Saturday and Sunday near the pedestrian bridge off Jesse Jewell Parkway to protest the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis.
RELATED: 10 arrested, 6 police cars damaged after protests in Gainesville
Gainesville police previously said the marches started peacefully, but soon grew tense.
“We began experiencing civil unrest through the destruction of our businesses and community,” police said.
The weekend protests culminated in 10 arrests.
COMPLETE COVERAGE: Atlanta protests
The police department noted another incident in which an officer was injured. Gainesville police said a man used a gold crucifix to hit a police officer in the head. Sebastian Marcos-Bautista, 31, was charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer and obstruction Monday morning, according to Van.
MORE: Police: Man faces 2 felonies after hitting Gainesville cop in head with gold crucifix
Gainesville police said the animosity shows what has been the city’s reality for the past few days.
“Not only are officers having to deal with the dangers of their daily duties such as having rocks, bottles and fireworks thrown at them, now they are dealing with attacks at their own homes,” the department said in the post.
The agency called for unity.
“We do not oppose you, we stand with you,” police said. “We stand firm against violence. We stand firm for you, the community. As a community we must stay united against destruction and violence.”
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