Man sentenced to 4 years in prison and fined $12 MILLION for helping to set fire to police station


Dylan Shakespeare Robinson (pictured) has been sentenced to four years in prison

Dylan Shakespeare Robinson (pictured) has been sentenced to four years in prison

A man who helped set fire to a Minneapolis police station during protests over the death of George Floyd has been jailed for four years. 

Dylan Shakespeare Robinson, 23, has also been ordered to pay back $12 million for damages caused to the Minneapolis Third Precinct police headquarters in Minnesota.

Thousands of protestors surrounded the police station as it erupted into flames three days after Floyd’s death in May last year.  

At one point, the crowd could be heard chanting ‘burn it down, burn it down.’    

Robinson is accused of lighting a Molotov cocktail that another person threw at the building. In addition, he and others allegedly tore down a fence that surrounded the headquarters. 

During the protests last year, a suspected looter was shot dead as rioters vandalized stores across Minneapolis.  

The body of the man was found lying on the sidewalk outside the Cadillac Pawn shop by police officers who later performed CPR on him.

Protestors looted and set alight stores including Wendy’s, Target, Walmart and AutoZone. 

Robinson pleaded guilty last September to one count of conspiracy to commit arson. 

The Minneapolis Third Police Precinct is set on fire during a third night of protests following the death of George Floyd

The Minneapolis Third Police Precinct is set on fire during a third night of protests following the death of George Floyd

Protesters gather around a liquor store in flames near the Third Police Precinct on May 28, 2020

Protesters gather around a liquor store in flames near the Third Police Precinct on May 28, 2020

Protestors setting off fireworks next to the police headquarters during violent protests on May 28

Protestors setting off fireworks next to the police headquarters during violent protests on May 28

Dylan Robinson was captured by surveillance cameras. He has been sentenced to four years in prison and must pay $12 million in restitution for his role in lighting the Minneapolis Third Precinct police headquarters on fire during civil unrest after the death of George Floyd

Dylan Robinson was captured by surveillance cameras. He has been sentenced to four years in prison and must pay $12 million in restitution for his role in lighting the Minneapolis Third Precinct police headquarters on fire during civil unrest after the death of George Floyd

In a statement, Acting US Attorney Anders Folk said: ‘On the night of May 28, 2020, Mr Robinson chose to depart from lawful protest and instead engaged in violence and destruction. 

‘The arson at the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct put lives at risk and contributed to widespread lawlessness in Minneapolis.’ 

Three other people have pleaded guilty in federal court for their roles in the precinct fire and are awaiting sentencing.    

The civil unrest that followed Floyd’s death led the governor to call in the National Guard. 

Floyd, a black man in handcuffs, died May 25 after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, knelt on his neck.

Chauvin was convicted earlier this month of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter  

‘ATF is committed to investigating the civil unrest arsons of 2020 that occurred throughout the Twin Cities,’ said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeff Reed, of the ATF St. Paul Field Division.

National Guard troops block off a section of Lake Street near the Third Precinct on May 29, 2020, during the fourth day of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minnesota

National Guard troops block off a section of Lake Street near the Third Precinct on May 29, 2020, during the fourth day of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minnesota

Protestors demonstrating outside the Minneapolis Third Precinct Police headquarters as it erupts in flames. One man is brandishing a sign which reads: 'I can't breathe'. Those were George Floyd's last words before he was killed

Protestors demonstrating outside the Minneapolis Third Precinct Police headquarters as it erupts in flames. One man is brandishing a sign which reads: ‘I can’t breathe’. Those were George Floyd’s last words before he was killed

He added: ‘Arson, being inherently violent, is a serious crime that put many of our community members at risk, and it cannot be tolerated.’

‘The danger posed by the defendant in this case was very real,’ said Michael Paul, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis field office. 

‘Today’s sentencing sends a clear message—regardless of motivation, when someone is intent on conducting a violent act that breaks federal law, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will move assertively to hold them accountable. This type of behavior puts public servants and our entire community in danger, and we simply will not let it go unaddressed.’

Co-conspirators Bryce Michael Williams, 27, Davon De-Andre Turner, 25, and Branden Michael Wolfe, 23, have all pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit arson for their roles in the arson at the Third Precinct building. They will be sentenced at a later date.  

Derek Chauvin

George Floyd

Floyd (right), a black man in handcuffs, died May 25 after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin (left), who is white, knelt on his neck 

Leave a Reply