A 21-year-old man was charged on June 2nd with trying to set a Trenton police vehicle on fire during violence that followed peaceful protests motivated by the death of George Floyd.
21-Year-Old Man Arrested for Attempting to Set Police Cruiser Ablaze
Justin Spry, of South Plainfield, was arrested in downtown Trenton on the evening of May 31 after a street surveillance camera allegedly caught Spry and another individual trying to stuff a piece of cloth into the gas tank of a marked police vehicle and light the cloth on fire. Police on scene allege that they witnessed Spry attempting to set the police vehicle on fire and that Spry tried to flee when he noticed the officers; however, Spry was quickly tackled by police and arrested.
Spry’s case was referred to the FBI, who charged him with attempting to damage or destroy by fire a vehicle owned or possessed by an institution receiving federal assistance, and with attempting to damage or destroy by fire a vehicle used in and affecting interstate commerce. The US Attorney’s office characterized Spry’s alleged conduct as “a deliberate effort to destroy a police vehicle during a demonstration.”
The incident allegedly involving Spry was part of a larger spate of violence in Trenton that followed peaceful protests arising from the death of George Floyd. The violence proceeded into the city’s downtown along East State Street, where a group of individuals began to smash storefronts, loot businesses, and damage marked police vehicles.
What to Do If You Are Arrested During Protests
With hundreds of thousands of people protesting in cities across New Jersey and the country, thousands of individuals have been arrested, either charged with engaging in looting and violence while protests are ongoing, or by continuing to protest and demonstrate in public after local curfew orders go into effect. If you have been arrested during the ongoing protests in New Jersey, an experienced criminal defense attorney from Hercules Law Group can help you.
If you’ve been accused of engaging in looting or violence while protests are ongoing, our New Jersey criminal defense attorney can help you develop a strong legal defense against your charges or a strategy to have your charges or potential sentence reduced through negotiated plea agreement. For example, if you are arrested for looting or violence, if you were erroneously identified by police as causing violence when you were in fact part of the peaceful protests or an innocent bystander, we can use evidence that you were not part of the violence in your defense. Or if you were arrested for causing violence, or for violating curfew orders even if you were peacefully protesting, we can aggressively advocate on your behalf for leniency to have your charges reduced or even outright dismissed.
Don’t wait another day to get an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. At Hercules Law Group, we strive to be kind, caring, considerate, non-judgmental, and easy to talk to. We aim for excellence in representing our clients, and we are always willing to go to trial to defend your rights. Contact us today to discuss your case and learn more about your options.
Contact an Experienced Haddonfield Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Criminal Charges in New Jersey
Were you arrested or charged with a crime in New Jersey? The consequences of a conviction could be severe, leaving you with a permanent criminal record and possibly even sending you to jail. That is why you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible about your case. The attorneys at Hercules Law Group have successfully represented clients charged with crimes in Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County and throughout New Jersey. Call 856-222-9991 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have an office conveniently located at 76 E Euclid Ave Suite101, Haddonfield, NJ 08033.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
Disorderly conduct consists of any improper behavior such as fighting, threats of violence, or creating a dangerous atmosphere.
