The popular YouTuber has been charged with criminal trespass after filming riots at the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall amid Black Lives Matter protest in Arizona.
- Jun 5, 2020
AceShowbiz - YouTube star Jake Paul has been arrested and charged with participating in riots during a Black Lives Matter protest in Arizona.
The 23 year old has been accused of unlawfully entering the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall, according to ABC 15 Arizona.
Paul shot footage of people looting in the shopping centre over the weekend, but fired back at critics who accused him of taking part in the vandalism, insisting he was only there to document the criminal acts.
He also accused police officers of attacking him.
Posting footage on his Instagram Story account, Paul said, "To be clear, neither I nor anyone in our group was engaged in any looting or vandalism. For context, we spent the day doing our part to peacefully protest one of the most horrific injustices our country has ever seen, which led to us being tear-gassed for filming the events and brutality that were unfolding in Arizona."
"We were gassed and forced to keep moving on foot. We filmed everything we saw in an effort to share our experience and bring more attention to the anger felt in every neighborhood we traveled through; we were strictly documenting, not engaged. I do not condone violence, looting, or breaking the law; however, I understand the anger and frustration that led to the destruction we witnessed and while that’s not the answer, it’s important that people see it and collectively figure out how to move forward in a healthy way."
But new reports suggest he was present after the protest was declared an unlawful assembly and he did not leave the mall when ordered to by police officials. He has been charged with criminal trespassing and unlawful assembly.
