Michigan Woman Arrested For Allegedly Drinking Stolen Beer, Inciting Riot On Facebook Live Video

A 22-year-old woman was arrested in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Tuesday for allegedly encouraging protestors to loot and act violently, which she captured on a Facebook Live video, MLive reported.

The video streamed over the weekend showed Alexandria Lyons drinking beer allegedly stolen from a local bar, according to court records. An additional video streamed from her home shows allegedly stolen clothes. Both videos prompted people to call the Grand Rapids police and affirmed Lyons’ role in riots that took place in the city, according to Grand Rapids police Detective Matt Dejong.

Lyons was arrested on charges of inciting a riot and malicious destruction of property, both of which are felonies that carry sentences of 10 and five years in prison respectively, if convicted.

The first video allegedly shows Lyons alongside large crowds of protesters, and she is heard encouraging people to “throw bricks or other objects at windows of multiple businesses downtown,” according to the arrest affidavit.

The second video streamed from what appeared to be a party at Lyons’ home, according to the affidavit, and showed clothing allegedly stolen from F. David Barney Clothiers, a clothing store in Grand Rapids.

Lyons was arraigned in the Grand Rapids District Court Tuesday and her bond was set at $40,000, according to MLive.

Tensions have remained high in Grand Rapids for several days as large crowds have gathered to protest the death of George Floyd, who died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes, video of the incident showed.

To help combat violence and looting throughout the city, Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss had established a 7 p.m. curfew that was in place until Tuesday night.