State Capitol Police arrested a 27-year-old man Monday on a felony riot charge for his role in the destruction of two Confederate monuments Friday night in downtown Raleigh.
Conrad Paul James also faces misdemeanor charges of first degree trespass, resisting an officer and injury to personal property for incidents Friday and Sunday nights at the State Capitol grounds.
He is being held at the Wake County Detention Center on a $55,000 bond.
“According to the arresting officer, (Sunday) night the suspect jumped the fence around the Three Presidents monument in Union Square and failed to go back to the other side of the fence after being told to do so several times,” said State Capitol Police Chief Chip Hawley in a statement. “The arresting officer reported that after being placed under arrest, the suspect began to resist, kicking violently at the officer and the officer’s patrol vehicle, causing damage to it. Further investigation concluded the suspect was also a suspect in the events involving the monuments at the capitol Friday night.”
On Saturday, Gov. Roy Cooper ordered three Confederate monuments removed from the state Capitol grounds to protect public safety, he said in a statement. That came less than 24 hours after protesters pulled down the two bronze soldiers at the base of the Confederate monument, The News & Observer reported.
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