Jake Lang, a far-right activist, was detained Saturday after a planned gathering outside Minneapolis City Hall sparked counterprotests in downtown Minneapolis.
Five EYEWITNESS NEWS choppers and crews were on the ground and in the air at the incident. At one point, some supporters and protestors battled and pushed each other. Lang appeared to be in a car, with a crowd of people following him around.
Edward Jacob Lang, also known as Jake Lang, declared on July 24 that he will return to Minneapolis for a “peaceful freedom of speech rally.” Lang, a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter, said Shiloh Hendrix was a guest. It’s unknown whether Hendrix was in attendance on Saturday.
As previously reported, Hendrix was found guilty of throwing racial remarks toward an 8-year-old girl with autism on a Rochester playground. The 37-year-old was found not guilty on the first count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct but convicted on the second count for his interaction with the videographer.
According to an update from Minneapolis Police, investigators arrested Lang and others following the incident.
According to authorities, Lang arrived to City Hall at 11:50 a.m. with six other people in two vehicles.
Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson claimed in a press conference that police were aware of the event and had prepared for it, deploying a “significant number of personnel” to the area and erecting barriers around City Hall to ensure a safe separation between demonstrators and automobile traffic.
However, as the vehicles approached Forest Street and Third Avenue South, Peterson reported that both automobiles unexpectedly drove onto the sidewalk into a gathering of people.
Police stated the vehicles were moving slowly, but others swiftly surrounded them.
“Almost immediately, a confrontation developed between members of the crowd and individuals associated with both vehicles,” Peterson stated. “Individuals on both sides used a chemical irritant believed to be mace.
Officers then approached the vehicles and directed them to leave the sidewalk and the area, according to police.
The temporary chief stated that many police were assaulted by thrown objects while attempting to move the vehicles off the pavement and away from people. According to Peterson, three police officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the altercation, with one being brought to the hospital and later released.
According to Peterson, cops permitted both vehicles to depart the area after establishing a path to de-escalate the situation, but both were later stopped with assistance from other agencies.
The Minnesota State Patrol stopped the first vehicle between Washington Avenue and southbound I-35W. Minneapolis police arrested all three on probable cause riot charges.
- Eric Wayne Dawson, 53
- Stephen Edward Major, 42
- Matthew Pike Oduguwa, 33
Oduguwa was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation of chest trouble and then transported to the Hennepin County Jail after being cleared.
Bloomington Police stopped the second vehicle, which they said was carrying four passengers, including Lang, near Lindau Lane and IKEA Way. Minneapolis Police then detained all four individuals for probable cause of riot:
- Charles Oscar Miles Jr., 73
- John William-Kei Irwin, 32
- Jayden Daniel Scott, 23
- Edward Jacob Lang, 31
According to Minneapolis Police, Lang was taken to the hospital for evaluation of an “apparent non-life-threatening injury that was not related to his arrest.” After being medically cleared, he was also escorted to the Hennepin County Jail.
“That (driving on the sidewalk) was the primary law that was broken to start the whole thing off,” Peterson stated. “Any time there is crowds of people gathered, the last thing we want to see is vehicles driving toward them when we don’t know their whole intentions.”
In addition to Lang’s group, four more people were arrested outside City Hall:
- Tanner Duncan, 29 — arrested for disorderly conduct and obstructing legal process.
- William Nicholas Love, 33 – arrested for assault.
- Matthew Norby, 37 — arrested on probable cause riot.
- Lucas Kaducak, 22 — arrested for disorderly conduct.
Norby was transported to the hospital to be evaluated for chest trouble and then taken to jail after being medically cleared.
Mayor Frey denounced Lang’s behavior at the news conference.
“People on both sides are able to express their First Amendment rights even when I find what they’re saying to be abhorrent, and that’s certainly the case with Jake Lang,” Frey stated. “And all the same, if you’re going to come in here, you’re going to drive on the sidewalk, you’re going to incite a riot, and you’re going to be a problem for people’s safety, then you’re going to get arrested, and that was exactly the case with Jake Lang.”
Saturday’s demonstrations followed Lang’s appearance in Minneapolis on January 17 as part of Operation Metro Surge. Supporters and protesters battled over Lang’s anti-Muslim remarks.
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