Another Utahn is facing criminal charges in relation to a police car that was flipped over and torched during a downtown Salt Lake City protest and riot just about two weeks ago.
Prosecutors on Monday submitted counts of criminal mischief, a first-degree felony, and rioting, a third-degree felony, against Monico Isidro Romero, 31, of Salt Lake City. He is alleged of ramming a yellow flag with a wooden handle through the windshield when the vehicle was tipped on its side.
Romero is one the at least eight charged in the vehicle’s destruction at the demonstration against police brutality, one of many nationwide after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Salt Lake police reviewed video recorded at the May 30 riot and compared the video to Romero’s driver license photo, charging documents stated. Seven others are charged with helping to flip or torch the vehicle, which sustained over $5,000 in damage. Images show the car fully engulfed in flames near the downtown Salt Lake City library.
Organizers with Utah chapters of Black Lives Matter condemned the violent outbursts that took place that day and prompted the demonstrators to remain peaceful.
In its request for an arrest warrant, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office wrote that it is seeking bail to be set at $25,000.
No attorney for Romero was listed in court records.
