Update: Tuesday, 2 p.m.
Activist Vaun Mayes has been released from the Milwaukee County Jail Tuesday afternoon.
BREAKING: Community Activist Vaun Mayes released from MKE Co Jail.
— Ben Jordan (@BenJordan3) June 30, 2020
Dist. Attorney says charges stemming from 40th & Lloyd still under review pic.twitter.com/lS39uAH8Pd
The District Attorney’s office will further review charges the Milwaukee Police Department presented against Mayes, including Burglary as Party to a Crime and Criminal Trespass to Dwelling.
Original story
An activist who has been involved with recent protests in Milwaukee in the wake of the George Floyd killing has been arrested after Tuesday’s arson and gunfire at a north side home last week.
Activist Vaun Mayes is now in police custody due to a warrant violation. Although MPD has not confirmed it was Mayes, multiple reports and cell phone footage show Mayes peacefully exiting his vehicle for police to put him in handcuffs near W. North Avenue and N. 51st street.
Milwaukee Police said they have placed the activist into custody on what they describe as a felony charge. They expect criminal charges to be filed against the activist “in the coming days.”
Late on Wednesday afternoon, protesters went outside the Milwaukee Police Department District 1 building downtown, near the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Much of that complex was placed on lockdown.
Police shared this as part of their statement Monday:
On Monday, June 22, 2020 and on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, Milwaukee Police searched a residence on the 2100 block of North 40th Street multiple times in search of two missing teenage females. The teenagers were not located at the residence.
Once the teenagers were located, they were interviewed by MPD members. Both teenagers denied going to or being at the residence and denied meeting or knowing anyone who lived at that residence. No information has been provided to MPD to suggest that the teenagers were at the residence that was set on fire or that any foul play occurred at that location.
As a result of the civil unrest that took place during that incident, several individuals in the crowd were responsible for shots fired, three non-fatal shootings, and arson to a multi-family residence along with other criminal activity. Several arrests have been made in connection to these incidents; however, Milwaukee Police continue to seek multiple suspects.
In addition, Mayes already faces multiple pending federal charges, first filed in 2018, related to allegations that he made and plotted to throw Molotov cocktails at a Milwaukee police station and a West Allis home in 2016 during the Sherman Park unrest.
Police ask you to call 414-224-TIPS with any information on the case. They say a cash reward is available.
