Far-right instigator among those arrested for probable cause riot in Minneapolis, police say
Far-right instigator and pardoned Jan. 6 insurrectionist Jake Lang was arrested Saturday, according to the Minneapolis Police Department.
According to police, Lang held a protest around noon in front of Minneapolis City Hall when he and two others, in two cars, unexpectedly drove onto the sidewalk and toward a crowd of counter-protesters.
"MPD had been aware of this demonstration for several weeks and developed a robust incident action in preparation for it," said Bill Peterson, the Interim Chief for the Minneapolis Police Department during a Saturday afternoon press conference.
"That plan included putting on duty significant numbers of personnel, working with our public safety partners and placing barricades outside City Hall designed to provide safe separation," Peterson added.
Police say a confrontation between the two groups happened quickly and chemical irritants were used by both sides. Police also say there is no evidence an MPD officer on scene deployed any irritant.
Shortly after, police say Lang and the two others fled the scene after their cars were overrun by counter-protesters.
"The best, that did occur, [is to] let those vehicles leave the area, which essentially did de-escalate things," Peterson said. "It was not safe for us to make any sort of arrest on those individuals in that large crowd."
Peterson said during the press conference that three officers were injured, with one needing to be transferred to a local hospital. That officer has since been released and none suffered serious injuries.
Police say they tracked the cars afterwards, stopping one near Washington Avenue and Interstate 35W. The second car was stopped by Bloomington Police near Lindau Lane and IKEA Way.
All members of Lang's party were taken into custody on probable cause riot, according to police. And they say four additional people were taken into custody outside City Hall.
"You know, if you're going to come in here, you're going to drive on the sidewalk, you're going to incite a riot [and] be a problem for people's safety, then you're going to get arrested," said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. "That was exactly the case with Jake Lang, that was the case for some of the other supporters that were in the car, and that was also the case of some individuals that were inciting some form of violence."
In March, Lang was arrested for destroying an ice sculpture on the front steps of the Capitol. He faces felony charges for destroying the sculpture.
Lang was previously in Minnesota in February to hold a rally inside the rotunda at the Capitol, but did not have permission.
