Pittsburgh police seek public's help in identifying 2nd riot suspect

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police said they are looking to identify another man shown in social media destroying a police car during protests outside of PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.

Police did not characterize the unidentified man’s involvement in destroying the police SUV.

“Police want to speak to him regarding his involvement in destroying a (Pittsburgh police) vehicle Uptown on Saturday, May 30,” police said Tuesday.

The white man depicted in photos that police shared wore a black T-shirt, black athletic shorts, a dark face-covering and sunglasses as he swung an object at the Pittsburgh police SUV.

Police did not say if the SUV was the same one Brian Bartels, 20, of Shaler was accused of destroying. However, photos indicate that it is.

Bartels, who turned himself into police Monday, has been charged with riot, institutional vandalism, criminal mischief and five counts of reckless endangerment.

A $10,000 bail was set Tuesday for Bartels and was posted.

Those with information about the other man’s identity and whereabouts is asked to call 412-323-7800 and to ask for the Intelligence Unit.

Saturday’s planned peaceful protest was spurred by the death of George Floyd, a black man, while being arrested by a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25.

Protests in Pittsburgh turned violent about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, police said. They said it all started with Bartels when he began spray-painting the cruiser, then jumped on the hood and broke the windows.

The action led to the burning of another SUV at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Washington Place. Later, businesses were vandalized and looted.

Police said they arrested 46 people, most on charges of failure to disperse and disorderly conduct.

Police made another 20 arrests Monday as protesters failed to disperse, even after police used tear gas and other crowd control methods.