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Omaha Steve

(99,073 posts)
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 04:38 PM Oct 2021

Man arrested in Molotov cocktail attack on Austin Dems' HQ

Source: AP

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A man seen on surveillance video wearing an American flag bandana when he threw a Molotov cocktail into the headquarters of the Democratic Party’s county office in Austin remained in custody Saturday, according to jail records.

Ryan Faircloth, 30, was arrested Friday and faces federal charges of arson and attempted arson, according to court documents. The documents didn’t say whether Faircloth had an attorney yet.

No one was in the Travis County Democratic Party headquarters when it was attacked at around 2 a.m. Wednesday and only a small stack of papers caught fire, officials said. The blaze was quickly extinguished by employees of a neighboring business.

Investigators received multiple tips after releasing the surveillance video, according to a complaint filed in federal court by FBI task force officer Ryan Metcalf. One of the tips led to Faircloth’s social media.



A rock remains on the floor at the Travis County Democratic Party office on East 6th Street in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, after someone threw a rock and an incendiary device into the building. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/fires-austin-texas-arrests-arson-3ed1a441166bb0367d44b41227ebe227

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Man arrested in Molotov cocktail attack on Austin Dems' HQ (Original Post) Omaha Steve Oct 2021 OP
And another idiot ruins his life for trump. Turbineguy Oct 2021 #1
Which is to say - notinkansas Oct 2021 #3
A wasted mind is a terrible thing nt Xipe Totec Oct 2021 #25
Facing Federal Arson and Attempted Arson Charges--Good. hlthe2b Oct 2021 #2
Good point not fooled Oct 2021 #13
Molotov. Russian. bucolic_frolic Oct 2021 #4
Molotov was a real piece of work IronLionZion Oct 2021 #14
Owned the Libs there. JohnnyRingo Oct 2021 #5
yes Skittles Oct 2021 #16
How does someone go from no criminal record to felony arson... Justice matters. Oct 2021 #28
yup Skittles Oct 2021 #29
How about a charge of domestic terrorism? ebbie15644 Oct 2021 #6
No kidding. This sure looks like domestic terrorism. SunSeeker Oct 2021 #8
Hopefully but this DOJ has been a disappointment so far ebbie15644 Oct 2021 #15
There is no Federal DOMESTIC Terrorism statute... that's why. Only a foreign terrorism statute. hlthe2b Oct 2021 #22
oops I knew that but forgot ebbie15644 Oct 2021 #26
This is the problem re: Jan. 6th. There is no domestic terror statute. This must change. nt Progressive Jones Oct 2021 #34
Excellent. The story implies his social media posts incriminate him. SunSeeker Oct 2021 #7
Was it worth "owning the libs ", asshole? Initech Oct 2021 #9
Another dumbass for Trump dalton99a Oct 2021 #10
Republican fashion statement Champp Oct 2021 #31
This one looks dumber than the average dumbass. Vinca Oct 2021 #36
He moves very poorly for a 30 year old man Sanity Claws Oct 2021 #11
incel Skittles Oct 2021 #17
Betting he was drunk as a skunk Deminpenn Oct 2021 #12
Enjoy your new prison mate, Bubba! twin_ghost Oct 2021 #18
somehow I don't think he's in a lot of trouble... stillcool Oct 2021 #19
He thought it is funny. Bet you he doesn't know his attack was based on lies fed to him by Fox .... Botany Oct 2021 #20
He won't think his jail time is funny. This punk is now on a hard road. Keep smilin', Punching Bag! Progressive Jones Oct 2021 #35
Yeah... he's unhappy, he commits arson, but MissMillie Oct 2021 #21
Guess it will be another slap on teh wrest,,, Cryptoad Oct 2021 #23
I'm sure he'll be put in charge of DHS when trumpskin is resurrected. erronis Oct 2021 #24
Here's Rachel Maddow's original report on the attack (with video) which aired on Wednesday: Rhiannon12866 Oct 2021 #27
But these are just "good people" nattyice Oct 2021 #30
Maybe SomeBody will keep him locked up for a couple of months, but doubt it. flying_wahini Oct 2021 #32
I suppose he will plead out and get a six-month suspended sentence. n/t malthaussen Oct 2021 #33

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
2. Facing Federal Arson and Attempted Arson Charges--Good.
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 04:46 PM
Oct 2021

Not much latitude for Trump-sympathizing local LEO to whitewash this.

not fooled

(5,791 posts)
13. Good point
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 05:26 PM
Oct 2021

Unfortunate that we have to consider whether LEO anywhere would be inclined to go easy on a terrorist.

IronLionZion

(45,261 posts)
14. Molotov was a real piece of work
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 05:52 PM
Oct 2021

he air dropped cluster bombs on Finland and claimed it was food aid baskets. So the Finnish called them "molotov bread baskets" and tossed lit rag soaked bottles of gasoline at Russian tanks calling them "molotov cocktails" to go with the food.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov_cocktail

JohnnyRingo

(18,581 posts)
5. Owned the Libs there.
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 04:53 PM
Oct 2021

Anytime there's a video, someone who doesn't like the guy will see it
In this case, it didn't take long to find that person.
Arson is among the worst of federal crimes because it shows total disregard for what happens after lighting the fire. Innocent people can die.

Skittles

(152,967 posts)
16. yes
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 06:58 PM
Oct 2021

total disregard for firefighters, too

how does someone go from no criminal record to felony arson - it is crazy

Justice matters.

(6,874 posts)
28. How does someone go from no criminal record to felony arson...
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 09:59 PM
Oct 2021
Answer: By listening to hate radio, fux noise, oan, and DJT & Co.

SunSeeker

(51,378 posts)
8. No kidding. This sure looks like domestic terrorism.
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 05:08 PM
Oct 2021

Maybe DOJ will step in and bring federal charges.

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
22. There is no Federal DOMESTIC Terrorism statute... that's why. Only a foreign terrorism statute.
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:48 PM
Oct 2021

And if you think the RW is going to allow that to be passed now, no way in hell.

SunSeeker

(51,378 posts)
7. Excellent. The story implies his social media posts incriminate him.
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 05:02 PM
Oct 2021

Reminds me of the 1/6 insurrectionists and their incriminating social media posts. These MAGAts are so fucking stupid. So happy he got caught and charged. Arson is a significant charge, but it should be domestic terrorism. Hopefully DOJ will step in and bring federal charges.

Sanity Claws

(21,822 posts)
11. He moves very poorly for a 30 year old man
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 05:20 PM
Oct 2021

I watched the surveillance tape and I thought the perpetrator was a 50 year old man based on the body build and movement.

stillcool

(32,626 posts)
19. somehow I don't think he's in a lot of trouble...
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:21 PM
Oct 2021

Austin Fire arson investigator Capt. Jeffrey Deane said Friday that the attack was politically motivated

“This person was not happy with the current political climate. He blamed this office and who they represent for a lot of the issues that he saw as problems with the country,” Deane said. “He was forthcoming and confessed to that.”

Authorities said in court documents that Faircloth left a note at the scene that mentioned states and a city with Democratic majorities or Democratic federal lawmakers. It then stated, “One thing you can’t have is Texas,” and “Consider this a ”light” warning,” according to a photograph in the document.

Botany

(70,291 posts)
20. He thought it is funny. Bet you he doesn't know his attack was based on lies fed to him by Fox ....
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:28 PM
Oct 2021

.... and so on and that the democrats and "the libs" are not the real enemy.

erronis

(14,955 posts)
24. I'm sure he'll be put in charge of DHS when trumpskin is resurrected.
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 08:05 PM
Oct 2021

But first, let's get poor donnie's vomit spew (twitter) reinstated.

Rhiannon12866

(203,040 posts)
27. Here's Rachel Maddow's original report on the attack (with video) which aired on Wednesday:
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 09:45 PM
Oct 2021
'Credible Threat': FBI Investigating Fire Attack On Texas County Democratic Party Office - Rachel Maddow- MSNBC
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017684368

Rachel Maddow walks viewers through video of someone smashing a window and attempting to ignite a fire in the offices of the Democratic Party of Travid County, Texas. Party chair Katie Naranjo joins with a message for the attacker. Aired on 09/29/2021.


flying_wahini

(6,529 posts)
32. Maybe SomeBody will keep him locked up for a couple of months, but doubt it.
Sun Oct 3, 2021, 10:48 AM
Oct 2021

I live in Texas, so I already know how this’ll end.
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