3 Accused Of Hurling Molotov Cocktails At NYPD Cars: Feds

BROOKLYN, NY — Two women and a man have been arrested after authorities said they hurled Molotov cocktails at NYPD police vehicles amid nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.

Around 1 a.m. Saturday, police surveillance cameras recorded Urooj Rahman, 31, of Bay Ridge, tossing a Molotov cocktail at a police vehicle that was parked near the NYPD precinct in Clinton Hill, federal prosecutors said Sunday. The vehicle was empty. Rahman then fled in a tan minivan and police officers gave chase, arresting both Rahman and Colinford Mattis, 32, of East New York, who authorities said was driving the vehicle.

Police found a lighter, a bottle filled with toilet paper and what appeared to be gasoline on the passenger seat, as well as a gas tank in the back of the vehicle, prosecutors said.

In another incident, video recorded by a witness showed Samantha Shader, 27, of Catskill, lighting a Molotov cocktail and throwing it at an NYPD vehicle with four police officers inside. Court documents said it happened around 1:15 a.m. Saturday near Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue in Crown Heights. The Molotov broke two car windows and damaged the inside of the vehicle. An unidentified man tried to shield Shader from onlookers, authorities said.

Police chased Shader as she tried to flee and apprehended her, prosecutors said. Shader later told police she threw the device, authorities said.

All three were expected to make initial appearances in Brooklyn federal court Monday via teleconference.

Mattis is an associate at the New York City law firm Pryor Cashman dealing with corporate mergers and acquisitions, as well as securities and corporate finance, according to the firm's website. He also worked as a legislative fellow for former Colorado state Sen. Mike Johnston, his profile said.

Richard Donoghue, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a news release that the trio were accused of attacking the NYPD while its police officers were risking their lives to protect the Constitutional rights of protesters and the "safety of us all."

"No rational human being can ever believe that hurling firebombs at Police Officers and vehicles is justified," Donoghue said. "The Eastern District of New York will do everything in its power to protect those who protect us all, and we will ensure that criminals who use the camouflage of lawful protest to launch violent attacks against Police Officers face justice."

Dermot Shea, commissioner of the NYPD, called Molotov cocktails "violent tools" used by people who are looking to "inflict harm and damage our city."

"Crimes like these are devastating to their targets and also to the protestors and their right to free speech that police are working hard to protect," Shea said.

Hundreds — possibly thousands — of protesters converged at the entrance to the Barclays Center on Friday chanting "George Floyd" as well as "Hands up! Don't shoot!" and "Black Lives Matter." A viral video of Floyd's final moments showed him utter "I can't breathe" while Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee on Floyd's neck.

Chauvin was arrested and charged with murder Friday, hours before the Brooklyn rally.

On Saturday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio held a news briefing to discuss the tensions. Lawmakers also called for an independent review of the events.