South Side man indicted for suspected role in May 30 Pittsburgh protest mayhem

A South Side Slopes man surrendered to federal authorities Thursday on charges that he threw bricks and more at Pittsburgh police officers during a spring protest in Downtown Pittsburgh, officials said.

Jordan Coyne, 25, was indicted Aug. 26 on one count of obstructing law enforcement, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Brady.

He’s accused of being among protesters who turned a peaceful protest violent on May 30, the first day of protests in Pittsburgh following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.

“Throwing rocks, bricks and pieces of concrete at Pittsburgh police officers and vehicles are not acts of protest – they are federal crimes,” Brady said in a statement, condemning the crimes as having “drowned out the protected speech of lawful protesters.”

#Pittsburgh man indicted for throwing projectiles at @PghPolice officers and damaging Pgh Police vehicle during May 30 civil unrest. @FBIPittsburgh

We will not tolerate attacks on police officers or violent crime under the guise of protest in western PA.https://t.co/YXSTwuDBJP pic.twitter.com/U0uP7XBTJM

— US Attorney Scott Brady (@USAttyBrady) September 10, 2020

The May 30 demonstration remained peaceful for hours, with hundreds marching throughout the Downtown area. Violence was sparked when several in the crowd began damaging a marked Pittsburgh police SUV, and that and an unmarked car were eventually set on fire.

Authorities have said some protesters went on the throw rocks and others projectiles at officers as they attempted to control the scene.

Eight people were indicted for their alleged roles in the unrest in late July.

“There were hundreds of innocent people around when this individual decided it was OK to throw dangerous objects at law enforcement officers and their vehicle,” Michael Christman, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office, said in a statement. “We will not support those who hijack these peaceful protests to pursue their own agenda.”

Coyne also faces 15 charges for his suspected actions that day, including four felony counts of aggravated assault, felony criminal mischief and felony vandalism. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert reiterated his bureau’s pledge to protect the First Amendment while balancing public safety.

“We will never tolerate criminal activity that puts the public and our police officers at risk in what should be peaceful demonstrations,” he said.

Forty-six people were arrested May 30 in connection with the protest. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala’s office dropped charges against 39 of them because of a lack of evidence.

Two days later, dozens were arrested during a protest in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood, which had carried on peacefully for hours before the events turned violent. Zappala went on to drop charges against 22 who were arrested in that melee, again because of a lack of evidence.