YouTube star Jake Paul faces charges after he allegedly participated in an unlawful protest at an Arizona mall over the weekend. Paul, 23, has been charged with criminal trespassing and unlawful assembly, the Scottsdale Police Department announced Thursday.
Paul was filming looting of the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall on May 30, according to video and a Scottsdale Police Department press release.
In footage of the looting, Paul is seen watching as rioters break into the mall. Paul later appears in footage that appears to show him inside the mall and filming inside of it after it had closed, according to video and the press release. It was unclear if Paul took anything from the mall.
YouTube star Jake Paul and his friends were caught “looting” and trashing property in a Scottsdale mall last night amid protests pic.twitter.com/KyrE87TvA9
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) May 31, 2020
The Scottsdale Police Department’s statement said that it “received hundreds of tips and videos identifying” Paul as “a participant in the riot.”
“Our investigation has revealed that Paul was present after the protest was declared an unlawful assembly and the rioters were ordered to leave the area by the police,” the statement read. “Paul also unlawfully entered and remained inside of the mall when it was closed.”
Paul has been charged with criminal trespass and unlawful assembly, which are both misdemeanors.
Sgt. Ben Hoster, public information officer, told NBC News that Paul was issued a summons to appear before an Arizona court in July.
After the charges were announced, Paul tweeted, “Gimme my charges and let’s put the focus back on George Floyd and Black Lives Matter.”
