Molotov Cocktail In SUV, St. Pete Protesters Arrested: Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL —A molotov cocktail was found in an SUV that was stopped by St. Petersburg police Monday in the midst of around 150 protesters gathered to protest the death of Minnesota's George Floyd.

Police arrested three individuals — Lady Nicole Nash of Largo, Eddie Bryant of St. Pete and Javonta McCloud of Clearwater — in the SUV shortly before midnight in the 1200 block of Central Avenue, police said. This location is close to the police station where protesters have assembled the past three nights. Police did not list the specific charges for the three listed in the police report.

One of the organizers of the St. Pete protests, Anthony Koedel of Tampa, was arrested on a charge of inciting a riot.

The police affidavit of Koedel states:

"Shortly after the traffic stop, protesters attempted to remove barricades which were set in place in front of the station and began driving vehicles the wrong direction on a one way road causing a public safety concern, and ultimately another unlawful assembly was declared. The defendant was taken into custody south of the police headquarters and found to be in possession of a backpack containing balloons and shaving cream which are commonly used in protests to hinder the police from making arrests, as well as used as projectiles."

In Koedel's Facebook Live video broadcast during the protests in the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 2, at around minute 16:50, he takes out a mask from his backpack, and a woman appears in the video who he refers to as Amanda. She verbally lists items inside the backpack and mentions "shaving cream." She says: "Just in case, you know."

Protesters in the video are seen delivering peaceful protests, and police sometimes come out of the station's front doors and stand behind the barricade placed in front of the building separating police from protesters. Police stand guard but do not entice protesters or react to statements from protesters that could potentially infuriate a person.

At one point toward the end of the video, an officer stands in front of the doors to the police station and gives a three- to five-minute warning for protesters to disperse. The unidentified protester with the megaphone responds to the warning that police have five minutes to get Chief Anthony Holloway outside to speak to them. It is unknown if the man with the megaphone is from St. Pete or if he is an outsider. Lakeland Patch reported that Lakeland police discovered some people involved in their protests were recruited from other states and caused violence to ensue after peaceful protests took place early Sunday. Some people have expressed to Koedel on social media that he had no reason to come over to St. Pete and organize protests because he is not a St. Pete resident.

After the warning time elapsed and protesters didn't take heed, as they still stood outside, a woman is heard screaming as a police officer throws a canister of tear gas and protesters start to run as does Koedel. The video ends during this time.

Authorities have not confirmed if there is a connection between Koedel and the three other protesters in the SUV arrested.

Patch did reach out to Koedel, but he has not responded yet.

St. Pete police say that this is still an active investigation. This is a developing story. Patch will provide updates as they become available.