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SALT LAKE CITY — One of the four people arrested Thursday during a protest at the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office building that turned violent was charged late Friday with two felonies.
Emanuel Alan Hill, 21, who told authorities he is homeless, is charged in 3rd District Court with criminal mischief, a first-degree felony, and rioting, a third-degree felony.
Between 100 and 200 people gathered in front of the district attorney’s office, 35 E. 500 South, on Thursday hours after District Attorney Sim Gill released his finding that the fatal shooting of Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal by Salt Lake police was legally justified. The protest was declared an unlawful gathering by police after some protesters stated breaking the large windows of the building.
Undercover police officers who were at the protest observed Hill and another man “strike and shatter several of the office’s large windows. Hill and the unidentified male used large metal poles to shatter the windows,” according to charging documents.
Four windows valued at $6,000 each were shattered, the charges state. Salt Lake police on Friday said a total of five windows were broken and total damage — including the cost to remove red paint that splattered all over the entryway — was between $100,000 and $200,000.
Police say they recognized Hill from other protests due to his “extremely aggressive behavior toward people and property,” the charges state.
As Thursday’s protest became more aggressive, undercover officers reported hearing those leading the protest “tell people who did not want to stick around to leave because ‘they planned on getting arrested,’” according to the charges.
Hill was also arrested for allegedly interfering with police during a separate protest at the Salt Lake City-County Building on July 2. He was formally charged for that case on Thursday in Salt Lake City Justice Court with interfering with an arresting officer, a class B misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct, an infraction.
In other recent cases, Hill was charged May 26 in South Salt Lake Justice Court with making a threat of violence at a treatment center. He is scheduled to appear in court in that case on Aug. 11.
On May 14, Hill was arrested by Unified police for investigation of assault on a health care provider at a Midvale treatment center, where he assaulted “multiple people, including hospital staff,” according to a police affidavit.
“Hill’s aggressive behavior at lawful protests has put protesters and law enforcement officers in danger. Based on Hill’s consistent combative and hostile behavior, law enforcement has had to monitor Hill’s actions to keep lawful protesters and property safe,” the charges state.
Formal charges were still pending against three other people who were arrested on Thursday.
Sofia Alcala, 18, was arrested for investigation of criminal mischief. Mercedes McKinley, 32, was arrested for investigation of assault on a police officer and failing to disperse. Ryan Christopher Moore, 39, was arrested for investigation of failing to disperse after refusing to obey a police command to leave the area.
