Two Men Plead Guilty to Minneapolis Police Third Precinct Arson
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty pleas of DAVON DE-ANDRE TURNER, 25, and BRANDEN MICHAEL WOLFE, 23, to one count each of conspiracy to commit arson at the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct headquarters. TURNER entered his guilty plea today before Judge Patrick J. Schiltz in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. WOLFE entered his guilty plea on December 22, 2020, before Judge Patrick J. Schiltz in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. WOLFE will be sentenced on April 22, 2021, and TURNER will be sentenced on May 13, 2021.
According to TURNER’s and WOLFE’s guilty pleas and documents filed with the court, on the night of May 28, 2020, TURNER and WOLFE separately went to the Third Precinct where a crowd of hundreds had gathered. At one point, the crowd began shouting, “Burn it down, burn it down.” Soon after, a fence that was designed to keep trespassers out of the Third Precinct building was torn down. TURNER and an individual unknown to him at the time (later identified as co-defendant Bryce Michael Williams) worked together to light an incendiary device which they intended to be used to start or further accelerate a fire. The incendiary device was taken into the Third Precinct headquarters by TURNER and was used to start a fire. WOLFE pushed a barrel into a fire located in the entrance of the Third Precinct headquarters that had been set by other unidentified co-conspirators. In his guilty plea, WOLFE admitted that he pushed the barrel with the intent to accelerate the existing fire.
Co-conspirators Bryce Michael Williams and Dylan Shakespeare Robinson have also pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit arson for their roles in the arson at the Third Precinct building. Williams will be sentenced on March 9, 2021, and Robinson will be sentenced on April 6, 2021.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted jointly by the ATF, the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs and David P. Steinkamp.
Defendant Information:
DAVON DE-ANDRE TURNER, 25
St. Paul, Minn.
Convicted: Conspiracy to commit arson, 1 count
BRANDEN MICHAEL WOLFE, 23
St. Paul, Minn.
Convicted: Conspiracy to commit arson, 1 count
###
