Art Institute student charged with burning police SUV during George Floyd protest

Jacob Fagundo, 22, is facing four counts of arson for allegedly setting the police vehicle on fire while it was parked in the 100 block of Lower Michigan Avenue.

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Jacob Fagundo’s lawyer said his 22-year-old client had gone to the protest on May 30 to show support for the family of Floyd — who was killed at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer — and to stand in solidarity with others protesting police brutality.

Jacob Fagundo’s lawyer said his 22-year-old client had gone to the protest on May 30 to show support for the family of Floyd — who was killed at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer — and to stand in solidarity with others protesting police brutality.

Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times file photo

An Art Institute student was ordered held on $25,000 bail on felony arson charges Friday for allegedly setting a Chicago police SUV on fire during a massive downtown George Floyd protest.

Jacob Fagundo’s lawyer said his 22-year-old client had gone to the protest on May 30 to show support for the family of Floyd — who was killed at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer — and to stand in solidarity with others protesting police brutality.

“I’m convinced that even if [Fagundo] did do these offenses ... he set out on that day with a pure heart and the most honorable of intentions,” attorney Robert Kerr said.

Kerr added that Fagundo has been previously diagnosed with mental illness, takes medication and sought medical help to adjust his medications after the protests.

If he is the man Cook County prosecutors said was caught on surveillance cameras, “he fell victim to his own emotions, his own passion and the energy of what ended up being a very chaotic demonstration,” Kerr said.

Video surveillance cameras recorded several people breaking windows of the police SUV while it was parked about 7 p.m. that night in the 100 block of Lower Michigan Avenue at 7 p.m., prosecutors said.

Jacob Fagundo arrest photo

Jacob Fagundo

Chicago police

Fagundo, who was wearing paint splattered clothes and a dark hooded sweatshirt, could be seen taking an item out of his backpack and throwing it into the battered SUV, setting it aflame, prosecutors said.

Authorities later identified the object used to start the fire as an incendiary device — possibly a firework or flare.

Several police officers’ had personal items inside the vehicle, prosecutors said.

Surveillance cameras tracked Fagundo as he walked away from the scene and removed his hood. The cameras also captured his unique arm tattoos, prosecutors said.

After police released surveillance images from the incident to the public last month, they received an anonymous tip identifying Fagundo, prosecutors said.

Fagundo, learning he was wanted by authorities, turned himself in Wednesday night. He had his attorney at his side when he went to the Area Three detective headquarters, 2452 W. Belmont Ave.

Fagundo has no criminal background.

He is expected to start his senior year at the School of the Art Institute this fall, which he was able to attend through a merit scholarship, Kerr said.

Judge Arthur Wesley Willis reprimanded Fagundo Friday, saying “Not only did you endanger yourself, if you did these alleged acts, but you endangered everyone who was nearby.

“The officers who had their personal possession in the vehicle did not go to work that day expecting they would be destroyed — that’s why you have four counts of arson instead of one.”

But the judge, noting that Fagundo was in school, also said he was “loath to place anyone who has mental health issues” in jail.

Willis recommended Fagundo be placed on electronic monitoring and only allowed to leave his home for school and medical appointments if he was able to post bond.

During the Floyd protests, multiple police SUVs were vandalized or set on fire, prompting Mayor Lori Lightfoot to impose a citywide curfew for a week.

Timothy O’Donnell, of Pilsen, was previously indicted on federal charges for allegedly torching a CPD SUV while wearing a Joker mask the same day authorities said Fagundo destroyed police property.

State officials estimated that looters and vandals caused $20 million worth of damage across Cook County. 

Fagundo is expected back in court on Thursday in Skokie.

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