The stepson of a former Democratic state lawmaker in Washington was arrested in Seattle for suspected arson during a recent riot in the city. Aside from arson, authorities believe that the man, identified as 19-year-old Jacob Greenburg, is also behind a recent assault on a police officer.
During his court hearing, former state representative Laura Ruderman pleaded with the judge and asked for leniency on the case.
“He is basically a good kid, straight ‘A’ student,” said Ruderman. “I've served the state in the legislature, we will make sure he follows all the provision.”
Court records are arguing that Greenburg lit several dumpsters and trash cans on fire during a riot last weekend organized by Every Night Direct Demonstration (ENDD), an Antifa-affiliated anarchist organization based in Seattle that calls for the abolition of the Seattle Police Department (SPD).
During the weekend, ENDD marched from downtown Seattle towards the SPD's East Precinct. Along the way, they did what radical leftists do best and destroyed a lot of private property that they came across. According to documents from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, ENDD even managed to destroy a police car during their march.
As soon as they reached the SPD's East Precinct, ENDD set up barricades using trash cans and dumpsters in order to block traffic as well as to protect themselves from the police officers being besieged in the East Precinct.
SPD detectives turned their attention to one individual, later identified as Greenburg, who was seen “squirting what appeared to be lighter fluid onto the dumpsters and trash cans.” Detectives say they witnessed him spraying lighter fluid multiple times into several dumpsters and trash cans that were on fire.
“Each time he squirted the liquid, the flames instantly grew larger until they consumed the dumpsters, cans and nearly one-third of the length of the intersection and reached seven to eight feet high,” wrote SPD officer Stephen Knapp in court documents.
After witnessing Greenburg start several fires, he was targeted for arrest by SPD officers. He tried to flee but was quickly apprehended and placed into custody on suspicion of arson.
The King's County Prosecutor's Office tried to argue that, based on the seriousness of Greenburg's crimes, the judge should hold him on a $350,000 bail. Unfortunately, Greenburg was released after paying a bail of only $20,000 which his mother, a businesswoman and former state representative, could easily afford.
The SPD objected to his release. They argued that not only is he a regular fixture at the recent riots and demonstrations in Seattle, but it is also very likely that “Greenburg will commit additional arson and add to the nightly violent riots” after he is released. (Related: “Regular attendee” of anti-police demonstrations in Seattle arrested for arson.)
Jason Lantz, Greenburg's attorney, told local media outlet KOMO News that the SPD investigators arrested the wrong man.
“Let's remember that what the police think they have,” said Lantz, “is that in this chaotic situation with dozens – hundreds of people that have very generic clothing, that doesn't mean they have the right person. They made a snap judgment.”
The prosecutor's office reminded the media that Greenburg can still be slapped with more charges if new evidence comes in. He is expected to return to court at a later date.
The SPD also suspects him of participating in a separate arson and Molotov cocktail attack against the East Precinct at a different demonstration, but he has not been charged appropriately for these crimes due to a lack of evidence.
Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and learn why Antifa and Black Lives Matter are very active in blue states like Washington, but are unable to make a foothold in red states like Texas because they are being met with quick and decisive action by law enforcement rather than by complicity.
Greenburg also main suspect in attempted murder of police officer
While Greenburg has only been charged with arson, SPD detectives are still investigating whether or not he was the main perpetrator of an attack on one of their police officers that occurred at another riot. The incident in question involves a masked Antifa agitator – believed to be Greenburg – hitting an SPD officer in the back of the head with a metal baseball bat. Fortunately, the officer was wearing a bike helmet that was able to deflect the blow, however his helmet was cracked as a result of the attack.
Greenburg is considered the main suspect because, upon searching his home in Kirkland, a city directly to the east of Seattle, SPD officers found a metal baseball bat and an outfit that matches the one worn by the attacker in a video taken by local journalists of the assault.
https://twitter.com/jasonrantz/status/1309116728123830275
According to SPD spokespersons, they believe that the officer Greenburg allegedly attacked would have been critically injured, if not killed, had he not been wearing the bike helmet.
Greenburg has not been arrested or formally charged for the assault and attempted murder of a police officer. The investigation is ongoing.
Looking through Greenburg's social media accounts, specifically his Facebook profile, authorities were able to find a treasure trove of anti-police posts, including one that said “We don't get justice, they don't get peace!”
Greenburg's last post, from Thursday, Sept. 24, said that he was at that night's demonstration that turned into a riot, and that he was asking for help to get some of his Antifa comrades bailed out of jail.
His stepmother, Ruderman, represented the 45th legislative district in the state's house of representatives from 1999 to 2005. During her tenure she served on the Appropriations, Rules and Health Care Committees and acted as the vice chair of the Technology, Telecommunications and Energy Committee.
She did not seek reelection in 2004 to run for secretary of state. She lost to the Republican incumbent. In 2012, she ran in the Democratic primary for Washington's 1st congressional district and also lost. She has not shown any further political inclinations since her failed 2012 congressional run.
It has been over four months since the engineered rioting began. In cities like Seattle and Portland, they have yet to stop. Learn more about the recent actions conducted by riot organizations like Antifa and Black Lives Matter by reading the latest articles at Rioting.news.
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