#1 According to the affidavit, in May 2008, Crowder allegedly attended a meeting in Minneapolis where numerous individuals from throughout the United States met to discuss preparations for protesting and disrupting the RNC. On Aug. 28, members of the Austin Affinity Group traveled from Austin, Texas, to Minnesota. The group brought a rental trailer with them that contained 35 shields, made from stolen traffic barrels. The shields were constructed with protruding screw heads so that they could be used as offensive weapons. St. Paul Police seized these shields on Aug. 31.
The affidavit states that on Sept. 1 McKay said he had a “falling out” with others in the group, and that he and some others were going to conduct “red actions” on Sept. 2.
During a conversation overheard by law enforcement through electronic surveillance on Sept. 2, McKay, the affidavit states, said that the Molotov cocktails that he and Crowder had manufactured would be thrown at vehicles parked in a parking lot near the Dayton Street apartment. The parking lot was used by law enforcement vehicles, and was visibly patrolled by the U.S. Secret Service and the military. During the same conversation, while discussing the use of Molotov cocktails, McKay was heard saying that he could leave the scene with a police officer burning or dying, and that “it’s worth it if an officer gets burned or maimed.”
During the execution of a search warrant by the St. Paul Police Department at the Dayton Street residence where McKay was arrested, officers seized a variety of items, including gas masks, slingshots, helmets, knee pads and containers of a gasoline and oil mixture. Under the kitchen sink, officers discovered a two-gallon gasoline container that appeared to be the one purchased by McKay, Crowder and others at the Wal-Mart on Aug. 31. In a common area in the basement of the residence, officers found eight assembled Molotov cocktails.
So long, sweetie. Enjoy your two years in PMITA federal prison. |
MINNEAPOLIS - A protester from Texas has been sentenced to two years in prison for possessing Molotov cocktails during the Republican National Convention last September. U.S. District Judge Michael Davis on Thursday also sentenced Bradley Neal Crowder to three years of supervised release.