The suspect stated, “Protest was super lit. If I’m unlucky I’ll get a felony.”
Three people have been arrested, including two minors and a man who identifies with “they/them” pronouns, for allegedly vandalizing a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Utah.
The vandalism takes place after a protest against the proposed ICE facility in Salt Lake City, which was recently purchased by DHS. The two minors and Chase Taylor Fredrickson, 18, were booked with charges. Officers said that Fredrickson was recorded by officers inside the building “throwing rocks at exterior windows of the building,” police records show. Fredrickson is facing charges of property damage and riot.
Glass on the facility was broken and the words “Kill all Nazis” as well as a swastika with an X through it were drawn on property near the facility. However, the graffiti was not linked to the crimes allegedly committed by Fredrickson and the two juveniles.
Fredrickson identifies with “he/him/they/them” pronouns on his social media and has made a number of pro-trans and left-wing posts. In an Instagram story posted after the incident took place, he stated, “Protest was super lit. If I’m unlucky I’ll get a felony.”
It appears things did turn out unlucky for him.
Chase Fredrickson’s social media
Chase Fredrickson’s social media
“In the video, I observed (Fredrickson) throwing multiple rocks at these windows. The throwing of the rocks caused the glass to shatter and break. Federal agents on scene informed me that (he) had damaged three windows in total,” an arresting officer wrote, per KSL.
The total damage to the windows is estimated to cost $3,000. The two juveniles who were taken into custody were charged with similar counts.
The incident occurred after DHS purchased a warehouse intended to be an ICE facility. Hundreds of protesters descended on the facility on Wednesday, which then ended in vandalism. The company that owned the building sold the facility to DHS for $145.4 million.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall as well as other Democrats in the region have condemned the use of the facility by ICE. “These will be very well-structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards,” ICE said in the emailed statement to the Salt Lake Tribune. “Every day, (the Department of Homeland Security) is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe. It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space.”
