Man charged with rioting

A Milwaukee man was indicted Tuesday in federal court on counts of rioting and arson resulting from the unrest in Milwaukee’s Sherman Park neighborhood in August 2016.

Toronse Carter, 20, is alleged to have participated in burning the BP gas station in the 3100 block of N. Sherman Park Blvd. on Aug. 13, 2016, the U.S. attorney’s office announced Wednesday.

Carter is the latest person charged in rioting as counts have come out piecemeal in both state and federal court. Stephen Ruffin has pleaded not guilty in federal court to similar charges as Carter and is awaiting trial.

Riots broke out in parts of the Sherman Park neighborhood following the shooting of Sylville Smith, 23, by sincefired Milwaukee police officer Dominique Heaggan-Brown. Heaggan-Brown was found not guilty of first-degree reckless homicide in June.

People set fire to several businesses, including a BP gas station, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts and BMO Harris Bank.

Throughout the riots last year, at least six squad cars were damaged, at least four officers injured and two teens wounded in separate shootings. Damage from the unrest was estimated at $5.8 million.

If Carter is convicted on arson, he faces a mandatory 10 years in prison. The other counts carry an additional five to 10 years.

“After a more than year-long investigation, we are proud of our team’s results, bringing justice to this community,” said U.S. Attorney Greg Haanstad. “These businesses, and more importantly this community, needs to know that these vandals will be held accountable for their actions and that we will continue to pursue the prosecutions of the remaining individuals involved in last summer’s riot-related arsons.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Milwaukee Police Department. The investigation continues.