Branden Michael Wolfe, Arson, Minnesota 2020

A St. Paul man was sentenced to 41 months in prison for his role in the arsons at the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct building.

On May 28, 2020, Branden Michael Wolfe, 23, went to the Third Precinct where a crowd of hundreds had gathered. At one point, the crowd began shouting, ‘Burn it down, burn it down.’ Soon after, a fence that was designed to keep trespassers out of the Third Precinct was torn down.

Wolfe pushed a barrel into a fire located in the entrance of the Third Precinct headquarters, which had been set by other unidentified co-conspirators, with the intent to accelerate the existing fire. Wolfe also entered the Third Precinct building and stole several items, including a police vest, duty belt, handcuffs, earpiece, baton, knife, riot helmet, pistol magazine, police radio, police overdose kit, uniform name plates, and ammunition.

Wolfe was arrested on June 3, 2020, wearing the police vest, the duty belt and carrying the tactical baton.

‘Mr. Wolfe furthered the destruction that took place in Minneapolis last summer by literally adding fuel to the fire. In addition to the arson, Mr. Wolfe stole body armor, weapons, and ammunition belonging to the Minneapolis Police Department,’ said Acting U.S. Attorney Anders Folk.

‘This sentence underscores the seriousness of Mr. Wolfe’s actions and holds him to account.’

On December 21, 2020, Wolfe pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit arson. As part of his sentencing, Wolfe was ordered to serve two years of supervised release and pay $12 million in restitution.

The case was the result of an investigation conducted jointly by the ATF, the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division.

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