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12 people charged in connection with business looting during Indy protests

Jail Handcuffs
Posted at 3:57 PM, Jun 05, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-12 10:56:45-04

INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County prosecutors have filed formal burglary charges against a dozen people in connection with looting and break-ins at businesses over the weekend of May 30 and 31.

The charges stem from burglaries at City Gear on East 10th Street, Finish Line at Washington Square Mall, as well as businesses downtown like Yolk Eatery, TJ Maxx and Circle Centre Mall.

Prosecutors accuse the suspects of trying to steal thousands of dollars in clothes, shoes, jewelry and liquor from local businesses

Call 6 Investigates reviewed dozens of pages of court documents and found nearly all of the people charged are from Indianapolis.

  • Kevin Frayser, Indianapolis (burglary, theft)
  • Andrea Harper, Indianapolis (burglary, theft, resisting law enforcement)
  • Johnnie Graham, no address (burglary, theft)
  • Dumolwenkosi Mangozhe, Indianapolis (burglary, theft)
  • Diquan Graham, Indianapolis (burglary, battery resulting in bodily injury)
  • Cordell Houston- Willard, NC (burglary, theft, and criminal mischief)
  • Kimberly Buchanan- Indianapolis (burglary, theft, and criminal mischief)
  • Cassina Blue- Indianapolis (burglary, theft, and criminal mischief)
  • Vincent Buchanan- Broadview, IL (burglary, theft, and criminal mischief)
  • Tatyana Hardy- Indianapolis (burglary, theft)
  • Uriah Hunt- Anderson, IN (burglary, theft, resisting law enforcement, criminal mischief)
  • Leroy Smith- Indianapolis (burglary)

Attorneys are not listed for most of the suspects, but RTV6 has left messages for attorneys that have been retained.

Hiba Suleman, an attorney for Diquan Graham, said her client is innocent.

Graham is accused of breaking into Yoke Eatery in an attempt to steal a pint of liquor on May 31.

His attorney is working to get surveillance video and other evidence.

“This was a peaceful protest that turned violent and was turned violent by IMPD and when people scattered that’s where this case came to be,” said Suleman. “When I read the court documents I have a lot of questions
The stories are not matching up, and just the general mistrust of the police right now is really unfortunate.”

Diquan Graham has remained in jail since his arrest, his attorney said.

Prosecutors plan to file formal charges against at least two more people, a spokesperson told RTV6.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears has said he will not file charges against 41 non-violent protesters arrested in downtown Indianapolis this past weekend.

Mears will review arrests on a "case-by-case" basis.

“We will not file criminal charges against those who came downtown to stand against injustice and make their voices heard through peaceful demonstrations,” Prosecutor Ryan Mears stated. “For us, the unfortunate choices by a few will not dilute the critical message carried by the majority.”