DENVER – Prosecutors charged a man Wednesday with four felonies, including engaging in a riot, for his alleged role in what city leaders called a riot on Saturday night, when fireworks were thrown at police and windows across downtown were broken.
Timothy Wempen, 22, faces felony counts of engaging in a riot, using explosives or incendiary devices, second-degree assault and attempted second-degree assault, according to the Denver District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors allege that Wempen was the person who threw three large fireworks into the Denver Police Department headquarters on Saturday evening, one of which injured one of the officers.
“My message to those who rioted on Saturday or who may be thinking of rioting in the future is that Denver will hold you accountable for your actions,” Denver District Attorney Beth McCann said in a statement.
Police had said Sunday that Wempen was among 12 people arrested on various charges. Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said the officer that was injured suffered a concussion and burns but would fully recover.
John Bailey, the leader of the Colorado Black Round Table, told Denver7 Tuesday that the rioters were not part of the Black Lives Matter movement – something that Denver Executive Director of Public Safety Murphy Robinson said on Sunday as well.
On Tuesday, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock asked Denver’s city attorney to seek full restitution for the damage caused during the riot and to review other data to see who else might face charges for the incident, which officials said Sunday amounted to “anarchy.”
McCann’s office has not announced formal charges against any of the other people arrested Saturday so far.
