Seattle man charged with stealing police rifle, setting patrol car on fire during May 30 riot in downtown Seattle

Seattle man charged with stealing police rifle, setting patrol car on fire during May 30 riot in downtown Seattle

Seattle man charged with stealing police rifle, setting patrol car on fire during May 30 riot in downtown Seattle

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Washington
15 October 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Defendant captured on video stealing rifle, torching car, then loses rifle in fight. Firearm is later returned to Seattle Police

Seattle - A felon from Georgia, with a domestic violence conviction and no contact order in Washington State, was arrested yesterday charged with arson and weapons crimes for his conduct during civil unrest on May 30, 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. TYRE WAYNE MEANS JR will make his initial appearance in federal court at 2:00 today on a criminal complaint charging him with four federal felonies: arson, possession of a stolen firearm, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.

“This is just the latest in a series of cases where our office has brought federal criminal charges related to civil disorder, and should be a wake-up call for those who think they can commit crimes hidden by a crowd,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “Federal law enforcement and local police are piecing together publicly available video and photographic evidence to identify and ultimately prosecute those who thought they could escape accountability for their actions. In this case it means a felon, who is legally barred from possessing firearms, now faces tough federal sanctions.”

According to the criminal complaint, just after 4:00 p.m. on May 30, 2020, MEANS JR was captured on video lighting a paper towel and placing it in the back of a Seattle Police patrol car parked outside of Nordstrom on 6th Avenue in downtown. Other persons in the crowd fed the fire with lighter fluid and other accelerants and the vehicle was destroyed by fire. After he lit one patrol car on fire, MEANS JR is observed on video reaching through the destroyed rear window of a different patrol car and removing a rifle bag. MEANS JR opens the bag, and looks inside. MEANS JR is seen fighting with an unidentified man who tries to retrieve the rifle bag before MEANS JR runs from the scene. A subsequent surveillance video on Pine Street, around the corner from where the rifle was stolen, shows MEANS JR in a fight with another man. While MEANS JR and the man are throwing punches, an unidentified man picks up the rifle bag and ultimately walks away. Later that day the rifle was anonymously returned to the Seattle Police West Precinct.

MEANS JR was identified as the suspect in the video by his distinctive clothing, jewelry, tattoos, and association with a female who also had distinctive tattoos and a significant social media presence. MEANS JR was arrested in Bremerton, Washington, where he was meeting with his Washington State Department of Corrections probation officer.

MEANS JR is prohibited from possessing firearms due to two felony convictions in the state of Georgia: serious injury by vehicle and obstructing law enforcement by use of threats or violence. In Washington, MEANS JR has a felony conviction for domestic violence that includes a no-contact order–that order also prohibits him from possessing firearms.

Arson is punishable by a mandatory minimum 5 years in prison and up to 20 years in prison. All three firearms charges are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the FBI and the Seattle Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.

Contact:
Press contact for the U.S. Attorney’s Office is Communications Director Emily Langlie at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@usdoj.gov.

Date	Document Name & Details	Documents
13 October 2020 filing date	United States of America v. Tyre Wayne Means Complaint for Violations United States District Court, Western District of Washington at Seattle	PDF - 873KB - 24 pages