3 charged for involvement in confrontations at Pittsburgh restaurants during BLM protest

WPXI
Tue, 15 Sep 2020 19:18 UTC

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Three people are facing charges for their involvement in confrontations caught on video at Pittsburgh restaurants during a protest over the Labor Day weekend.

Charges were filed Monday against Shawn Green, who goes by Lorenzo Rulli, as well as Kenneth McDowell and Monique Craft.

One of the incidents occurred in front of Sienna Mercato on Penn Avenue. A social media video showed Black Lives Matter protesters yelling and cursing at people eating outside the restaurant. One woman walked up to a table and drank someone's drink while several other people smashed glasses on the ground.

In another video, demonstrators became aggressive toward a manager inside a McDonald's restaurant.

According to a criminal complaint, McDowell used a megaphone to scream obscenities at diners sitting outside Sienna Mercato. He was also identified as the person who got into an altercation with the McDonald's employee.

© Facebook

A man identified as Kenneth McDowell is seen shouting at a bicyclist through a megaphone during the confrontation outside Sienna Mercato

Green, according to the complaint, swore at diners, specifically an elderly couple, and gave them the middle finger. He also walked up to the front of the restaurant and screamed into an open window.

Craft admitted that she chugged the couple's beer, the complaint stated.

© Facebook via KDKA

Monique Craft stealing beer from an elderly couple drinking outside the Sienna Mercato restaurant on September 5

Police specified that the diners did not appear to be engaging with the protesters.

McDowell's charges include possessing instruments of crime, disorderly conduct and harassment. Green's include disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. Craft's include theft by unlawful taking and disorderly conduct.

Activists say actions of protesters captured in viral videos does not represent justice movement.

Comment: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette adds:

Craft is charged by summons with third-degree misdemeanor theft, third-degree misdemeanor conspiracy and summary simple trespass; Mr. McDowell is charged with first-degree misdemeanor possessing instruments of crime, third-degree misdemeanor conspiracy, summary harassment and two counts of summary disorderly conduct; and Mr. Green faces charges of third-degree misdemeanor conspiracy, summary criminal mischief, summary disorderly conduct and summary simple trespass.

The maximum sentencing for first-degree misdemeanors, third-degree misdemeanors and summary offenses in Pennsylvania is up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine; one year in prison and/or a $2,500 fine; and 90 days in prison and/or a $300 fine, respectively, according to the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing.

Police issued arrest warrants for Mr. McDowell and Mr. Green, a criminal complaint states, because their appearance in court is "not guaranteed." A preliminary hearing for Craft is scheduled for Nov. 3 at City Court in Downtown, according to court records.