S. Side man indicted, accused of throwing projectiles at police
A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted a Pittsburgh man accused of throwing projectiles at police and damaging a police vehicle during a May 30 protest.
Jordan Coyne, 25, of the South Side Slopes, was indicted on one count of obstructing law enforcement by throwing projectiles at police officers and through the back window of a police vehicle.
The indictment is connected to a May 30 protest which occurred in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody. Two unoccupied police cars were vandalized and set ablaze during the protest, which was subsequently declared an unlawful assembly.
Mr. Coyne turned himself into authorities Thursday morning.
“Throwing rocks, bricks and pieces of concrete at Pittsburgh Police officers and vehicles are not acts of protest — they are federal crimes,” U. S. Attorney Scott Brady wrote in a release. “Jordan Coyne’s reckless, violent behavior endangered police officers and drowned out the protected speech of lawful protesters.
“Make no mistake: if you attack police officers or commit violent crime under the guise of a protest, you will be indicted federally. We will not tolerate these unlawful acts in western Pennsylvania.”
Mr. Coyne faces a maximum total sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $ 250,000 and up to three years of supervised release.
His attorney, William McCabe, said he had just gotten involved with the case and did not want to comment until he had looked over all the information.
Assistant U. S. Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting the case.
Mr. Coyne also faces several charges in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court in connection to the protest, including multiple felonies. A preliminary hearing for those charges is set for Monday.
The property damage and looting that occurred at the May 30 protest have led to criminal charges against several people, some of whom face charges related to damaging the police vehicles and assaulting a KDKA- TV photojournalist.