7 charged in connection to riots in downtown Nashville, 2 warrants recalled

UPDATE (6-5-20)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Metro Police say seven people have now been charged in connection to riots last weekend in Nashville and arrests warrants against two people initially charged with aggravated rioting have been recalled.

The latest arrest came Friday afternoon. Detectives arrested Nicholas Barrett, 25, on charges of aggravated rioting and vandalism connected to the attack on the Historic Courthouse in Nashville. Police said he used a skateboard to break out windows and threw a skateboard at a marked patrol car, damaging the driver's side.

Six others have been charged in connection to the riots, five of whom are facing charges specifically related to the attack on the courthouse: Wesley Somers, of Hendersonville is facing a federal charge of malicious destruction of property using fire or explosives connected to the blaze. Jesse Lee Clark, 26, is accused of breaking windows and helping co-defendant Wesley Somers ignite materials. Vincent Hamer, 18, is accused of using objects to break at least two of the historic courthouse's windows. Tondrique Fitzgerald, 23, is accused of pulling a granite civil rights plaque off a Courthouse wall and verbally encouraging others in the vandalism.

Police said Daniel Lane, 22, of Franklin, who was photographed spray painting a police car, is charged with felony vandalism.

Warrants against Justin-Bautista-Jones and Janeisha Harris have been recalled for the present, a Metro Police representative said Thursday.

Metro Police said in a statement, "After a review of the information from last Saturday, some of which was just received this afternoon, the MNPD and District Attorney General Glenn Funk agree that the arrest warrants issued last night against Justin-Bautista-Jones and Janeisha Harris will be recalled for the present."

Metro Police provided mug photos of both Jones and Harris that were published with an original version of this original story and have since been removed.

As FOX 17 News previously reported, Jones tweeted Thursday afternoon that the charges were false and politically motivated.

Police continue to try and identify a woman seen on video openly setting fire to the Historic Courthouse. A cash reward is being offered as police seek to identify the woman in the video. Call 615-742-7463 with information.

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Metro Police released late Thursday evening that Daniel Lane, 22, of Franklin, surrendered to the Davidson County Detention Center for booking on warrants. He is charged with aggravated rioting and felony vandalism related to Saturday's riots in Nashville.

According to Metro Police, Lane was photographed spray painting a marked police car outside of the Central Precinct.

District Attorney General Glenn Funk has designated a prosecutor to help Metro Police detectives with the process of reviewing evidence and charging suspects.

According to Metro Police, a judicial commissioner will review sworn probable cause statements from detectives, officers and citizens when determining whether arrest warrants should be issued.

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Previous story:

Seven people, including a former U.S. House Congressional candidate, have now been charged in connection to riots in downtown Nashville over the weekend and police are still trying to ID a woman who set fire to the Historic Courthouse.

Metro Police said three new arrest warrants for felony aggravating rioting have been issued for allegedly damaging police cruisers when violence broke out.

Justin Bautista-Jones, 24, of Nashville, who was running for Rep. Jim Cooper's seat in Tennessee's 5th congressional district but did not receive the necessary amount of signatures to qualify as a candidate, is among those charged. Metro Police said he was photographed walking on the police vehicle damaging it.

Jones tweeted that the charges are politically motivated and false and says he will turn himself in.

Police said Daniel Lane, 22, of Franklin, who was photographed spray painting the car and Jeneisha C. Harris, 23, who was also photographed walking on the car, contributing to the damage.

The police vehicle, a 2018 Ford, might be a total loss. MNPD said 18 police vehicles were damaged during riots, 11 of them are still out of service.

Police are now trying to identify a woman captured on video openly setting fire to the courthouse.

A cash reward is being offered as police seek to identify the woman in the video. Call 615-742-7463 with information.

Four others have been charged in connection to the attack on the courthouse.

Wesley Somers, of Hendersonville is facing a federal charge of malicious destruction of property using fire or explosives connected to the blaze. Jesse Lee Clark, 26, is accused of breaking windows and helping co-defendant Wesley Somers ignite materials. Vincent Hamer, 18, is accused of using objects to break at least two of the historic courthouse's windows. Tondrique Fitzgerald, 23, is accused of pulling a granite civil rights plaque off a Courthouse wall and verbally encouraging others in the vandalism.