COLUMBUS – Columbus police have charged a Wauseon man for his role in a break-in at the headquarters of the Division of Police Tuesday night.
Hunter Mattin, 20, has been charged with aggravated burglary after he was identified as a member of a crowd of demonstrators who police say forced their way through locked doors into the downtown building during a protest over the recent shooting deaths of Black men at the hands of white police officers.
One protestor assaulted an officer, striking him with a club, police said.
Police released a timeline of Tuesday’s events:
6:30pm: Planned vigil at Mayme Moore Park at 835 Mt. Vernon Avenue. No uniformed officers in the area.
7:45pm: Vigil ended. The group of approximately 35 people staged in a parking lot in preparation of a march to CPD HQ.
7:49pm: March started towards HQ.
8:05pm: Protesters are at CPD HQ. Approximately 50 protesters. No protesters approached the building, officers monitored from a distance.
8:27pm: The crowd arrived at Long Street and High Street. And blocked traffic. Officers monitored from a distance.
8:41pm: The crowd was on S. High Street in front of the McKinley Statue between Broad and State. At that time, the crowd was forcing traffic to go the wrong way. 9:03pm: Crowd returned to CPD HQ.
9:19pm: Crowd approaches the front door of HQ.
9:23pm: Entry made to the building.
-Source: Columbus Division of Police
Authorities are reviewing video to identify additional suspects, according to a release from the city’s Division of Public Safety.