(PresidentialHill.com)- An Indiana man who traveled to Portland, Oregon to join the riots of 2020 pleaded guilty last week to 14 felony charges and was sentenced to ten years in prison and will have to pay $200,000 in restitution.
In September 2020, Malik Muhammed brought baseball bats and Molotov cocktails to a planned protest outside the East Portland Police precinct where he handed out the bats and hurled multiple Molotov cocktails at police officers. One of the Molotov cocktails Muhammed threw landed short causing an explosion that engulfed another protester in flames leading to severe injuries.
Muhammed participated in three additional violent Portland riots where he twice threw lit Molotov cocktails at police officers including one incident that caused an explosion that narrowly missed several officers, igniting the clothing of one.
In addition to tossing homemade bombs at the police, Muhammed also used a baton to smash windows in different locations in downtown Portland and was seen attempting to hide a loaded firearm.
The day after the violent protest outside of the police precinct, police located a discarded baseball bat with a Goodwill price tag. After tracking down the Goodwill store, police reviewed surveillance video and found Muhammed and his girlfriend buying the bats and several “growler” bottles
At one of the demonstrations Muhammed attended, an unexploded Molotov cocktail that landed near a police sound truck consisted of a yellow glass “growler” bottle with a Goodwill price sticker on the bottom. DNA evidence collected from the bottle belonged to Malik Muhammed.
After Muhammed was arrested in October 2020, investigators seized his cell phone and discovered messages where he bragged about handing out baseball bats to other rioters. Investigators also found a shopping list that included supplies needed to make Molotov cocktails.
Muhammed was charged by criminal complaint last May with possession of unregistered destructive devices, engaging in civil disorder and obstructing law enforcement, and using explosives to commit a felony. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in June.
Muhammed’s charges include assault in the second degree, rioting, attempted murder 2, criminal mischief, unlawful possession of a destructive device, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
