Prison For South Plainfield Man Who Took Part In Trenton Riots

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — A South Plainfield man who admitted to setting a police car on fire during a riot in Trenton last summer has now been sentenced to two years in prison, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

This happened May 31, 2020 as part of the Black Lives Matter protests in response to the death of George Floyd.

Previously, in March of this year, Justin Spry, 22, of South Plainfield, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to obstruct, impede or interfere with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder affecting commerce, said the U.S. Attorney's office.

He will also be under three years of supervision when he is release from prison.

On May 31, 2020, large-scale protests were held throughout the United States, including in Trenton, in response to the death of George Floyd. Although the May 31 protest in Trenton was peaceful earlier in the day, violence erupted later.

A group of individuals proceeded down East State Street in downtown Trenton and began to riot, smashing store fronts, looting stores, and attacking multiple marked Trenton Police Department vehicles parked on the 100 Block of East State Street, said federal prosecutors based in New Jersey.

A Trenton street camera and other video footage taken by an individual present on the street captured one man, identified as Kadeem Dockery, light an explosive device and throw it through the open front driver’s side window of a Trenton Police Department vehicle.

Dockery then removed his shirt and handed it to another man, Killian Melecio, who then attempted to stuff the shirt in the gas tank of the police vehicle and ignite it.

Melecio was then assisted by Spry in attempting to set fire to the police vehicle, said police. Law enforcement officers on scene arrested Spry, but Melecio and Dockery fled.

Law enforcement later identified Melecio and Dockery through analysis of street camera and other video footage. They were arrested on Aug. 5, 2020.

Spry pleaded guilty in late March. Melecio pleaded guilty on Jan. 26, but the charges against Dockery are still pending.

Be the first to know. Sign up to get Patch emails: https://patch.com/subscribe Contact this Patch reporter: Carly.baldwin@patch.com