US Attorney Bill Essayli details charges against LA rioters, over attempted arson of a police vehicle and assaulting a federal agent: “As our president said, if you spit, we hit — and we will hit you with a felony.”
“As I mentioned last week, much of the violence has been directed at law enforcement. Police officers who are just trying to do their jobs and protect the community. As you saw in the news on June 8th, our highway patrol officers were violently and viciously attacked by individuals from an overpass above the 101 Freeway, throwing rocks and explosive devices, and lighting CHP cars on fire.
On Friday, federal agents and the CHP arrested Mr. Adam Charles Palermo for his role in the attack on our CHP officers. Palermo was caught on video participating in the attack. His social media account contained a collage of photographs and videos depicting a man holding flying debris, a CHP patrol car on fire, and various other damage to CHP patrol cars. In the caption, he wrote, ‘All of the protests I’ve been involved in, which is well over a hundred now, I’m most proud of what I did today.’
Mr. Palermo is charged with a violation of 18 United States Code Section 844(i), attempted arson of a vehicle used in interstate or foreign commerce. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years. He will not be doing any protests for the next foreseeable future.
Another case filed yesterday involves an individual who spit on a military serviceman and a law enforcement officer. On Saturday, California National Guard and federal police were outside the federal building on Los Angeles Street trying to protect federal property. Angus Johnson confronted a California National Guardsman, and after heckling him, he spit on him. Johnson then spit on other federal police officers present who were trying to keep the peace.
As our President said, if you spit, we hit — and we will hit you with a felony. Mr. Johnson is charged with assaulting a federal agent in violation of 18 United States Code Section 111. He faces a maximum sentence of 8 years in prison.”