Mercer Man Sentenced To Prison For Torching Police Car During Trenton Riot

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A Mercer County man was sentenced to over two years in prison for helping set fire to a police car during the 2020 riot in Trenton following the death of George Floyd, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.

Kadeem A. Dockery, 31, of Trenton, previously pleaded guilty to charges of one count of attempting to obstruct, impede, or interfere with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder affecting commerce. More: NJ Man Indicted For Throwing Explosive Device At State Police

He was sentenced on Tuesday by Judge Brian R. Martinotti. Dockery was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.

On May 31, 2020 at about 8:13 p.m., Dockery lit an explosive device and threw it through the open driver’s window of a Trenton Police vehicle, according to court documents.

Video footage captured the sound of an explosion, and smoke emanating from the police vehicle. Law enforcement later identified Dockery through analysis of street cameras and other video footage, according to court documents. He was arrested on Aug. 5, 2020.

Dockery is the last of four people to be sentenced in connection with the protest in Trenton. Earlja J. Dudley was sentenced in March of 2022 to 30 months in prison; Killian F Melecio was sentenced in June of 2021 to 28 months in prison; and Justin D. Spry was sentenced in September 2021 to 24 months in prison. More: Mercer Co. Man Sentenced To Prison For Role In Trenton Riots; South Plainfield Man Admits To Setting Police Car On Fire In Riot

The Trenton riot took place after days of peaceful protest following the death of Floyd in Minneapolis.

Although the May 31 protest in Trenton began peacefully, violence erupted later. A group of people went down East State Street in downtown Trenton and began to riot, smashing storefronts, looting stores, and attacking multiple marked Trenton Police Department vehicles parked on the 100 Block of East State Street, according to court documents.

Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com