Tacoma man pleads guilty to setting fire to Seattle police building during 2020 protests

Tacoma – A Tacoma man pleaded guilty to arson for setting fire to a Seattle police station last year, the US attorney said on Wednesday.

Isaiah Thomas Willoughby, 36, is due to be sentenced on October 4th.

Defense attorney Dennis Carroll said in a statement Wednesday: “Isaiah Willoughby was Manny Ellis’ roommate when Mr Ellis was killed by law enforcement officers. Mr Willoughby’s actions in setting the fire in the East Precinct were in large part motivated by the murder of his friend Manny, the murder of George Floyd, and his own experience of law enforcement. After Mr. Willoughby learned that Washington State was going to hold Manny’s killer accountable, Mr. Willoughby decided to take responsibility for his own actions by founding himself guilty of actions related to a fire he was in the East Precinct of the Seattle Police Department had placed. “

Ellis died when he was arrested by Tacoma police in March 2020. Three officers were charged in his death last month, two for second degree murder and first degree manslaughter and another for first degree manslaughter.

In the case against Willoughby, prosecutors said the video shows the defendant pouring gasoline on debris next to the Seattle Police East Precinct building and setting the debris on fire on June 12, 2020.

“The fire scorched the side of the building, but was extinguished by people nearby with fire extinguishers and pulled the burning debris away from the building,” said a press release from the US Attorney’s Office. “After the Seattle Police Department released pictures of the alleged arsonist, various people recognized Willoughby and discovered that the distinctive sweatshirt was from a clothing line he represents.”

Family members told police that he was in Seattle’s organized protest zone, commonly known as CHOP, at the time, prosecutors said.

“After the fire, Willoughby took steps to remove posts from his social media accounts that may have linked him to the arson,” the press release said. “However, at least some of his Facebook posts remain, mentioning his anger at the police and his knowledge of the East Precinct building.”

The prosecutor wants to recommend a three-year prison sentence.