Name: FBI arrests two Pa. men, accuses them of traveling with weapons to Cleveland’s protests
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FBI arrests two Pa. men, accuses them of traveling with weapons to Cleveland’s protests

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NEW!310sharesCLEVELAND, Ohio — FBI agents on Friday arrested two Pennsylvania men and accused them of bringing a weapon and fire-starting materials to demonstrations in downtown Cleveland last weekend.Brandon Althof Long, 23, and Devon Bryce Poland, 22, face federal charges related to their travel from Erie, about 100 miles northeast of Cleveland, to the protests against police brutality, according to federal court filings. Authorities said more investigations are under way.More than 3,000 people headed downtown May 30 for what began as a peaceful protest over the death of George Floyd. It later turned violent, as some demonstrators burned police cars and vandalized stores and the Justice Center.Dozens were arrested, and Long and Poland were the first to face federal charges. Authorities said there is no indication the men belonged to any organized group.“You may think that you are anonymous. You may think that you escaped the city last Saturday night, but Mr. Poland and Mr. Long thought the same thing,” said Eric Smith, the FBI’s agent in charge of the Cleveland field office.The duo was originally stopped by Cleveland police and charged with curfew violations. Cleveland police then turned the case over to the FBI who filed charges Friday of transporting a firearm in furtherance of civil disobedience; using fire or an explosive device to commit a felony; and participating or carrying on a riot.The men were arrested at 6 a.m. Friday and held without bond, pending a hearing before a federal magistrate next week.Affidavits unsealed Friday revealed that the men allegedly brought a pistol, spray paint and fire-starting equipment to the protests.Authorities searched their iPhones and reviewed Facebook messages that showed they discussed purchasing supplies to make a Molotov cocktail as they planned to head to Cleveland. Poland appeared hesitant, saying his future wife needed him, according to the affidavits.Long, however, was insistent, the affidavits said.“This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing you can witness and maybe participate in,” Long wrote to Poland before they left Erie, according to the affidavits. “Or tell her you gotta go overthrow the government first.”Poland later asked, “Should we bring Molotov supplies?”Long responded: “Sadly enough, I think I have everything needed for a Molotov in my car. Like normal.”Cleveland police detectives spotted Long walking near his SUV parked near an alley off Huron Avenue at 11:55 p.m. Saturday, almost four hours after the city’s curfew began. In his car, officers found that he had a .45-caliber Glock, two bottles of fire starters, paint, a hammer and a bottle of whiskey, which appeared to have been stolen.Long said he carried the Glock for protection, but he denied that he carried it with him during the violent protests.The men were later released from Cleveland police, and they returned to Erie. The FBI later obtained authorization to search the men’s phones, and Kiesel found the messages about the men’s plans to head to Cleveland.“Cleveland seems like a better spot to riot watch,” Long told Poland in one of the messages, according to the affidavits. “Police are shooting tear gas. Pittsburgh hasn’t had much of that.”U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman told reporters Friday that it was clear that there were “out-of-state agitators who hijacked last weekend’s peaceful protests for their own purposes.” He said authorities are working on other investigations “involving a series of individuals who are responsible for the destruction of our downtown.”However, Cleveland police, Herdman the FBI and the criminal affidavit provided no evidence that the two men participated in any acts of violence or vandalism during their time in downtown Cleveland.Long’s attorney, Mitchell Yelsky of Cleveland, said his client “enjoys the exact same constitutional protections and guarantees as everyone in this country. That includes the right to be presumed innocent, the right to freely travel the interstates and roadways, the right to peacefully assemble and the right to express political views, including extreme political views.”Poland’s attorney, Marie Goellner, could not be reached.Authorities stressed that investigators are working to find those who committed crimes in the city last weekend.“If you burned a car, broke into a store or beat somebody up, then we are going to find you and hold you responsible,” Herdman said.Calvin Williams, Cleveland’s police chief, agreed: “A lot of people came here to tear down our city. We can’t let that happen.”Williams and other city and federal leaders said they welcome peaceful protests, which they called a cornerstone of democracy. Other protests are scheduled for this weekend in Cleveland and other cities across the state.“We’re prepared,” Williams said. “We are prepared.”Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

NEW!310sharesCLEVELAND, Ohio — FBI agents on Friday arrested two Pennsylvania men and accused them of bringing a weapon and fire-starting materials to demonstrations in downtown Cleveland last weekend.Brandon Althof Long, 23, and Devon Bryce Poland, 22, face federal charges related to their travel from Erie, about 100 miles northeast of Cleveland, to the protests against police brutality, according to federal court filings. Authorities said more investigations are under way.More than 3,000 people headed downtown May 30 for what began as a peaceful protest over the death of George Floyd. It...

FBI arrests two Pa. men, accuses them of traveling with weapons to Cleveland’s protests

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