An 18-year-old man charged with setting fires on Main Street during the rioting that followed the end of the U.S. Open of Surfing is expected in court on Friday.
Illario Niko Johnson faces charges in connection with the July 28 incident in which groups of people fought, lit fires, threw bottles at officers, broke a bike shop window and tipped over portable toilets in downtown Huntington Beach.
Johnson was erroneously identified in photos that went viral smashing the window of a bike shop and raising his arms in the air. He also reportedly tweeted about his connection to the case.
Some 250 police officers responded to the disturbance and arrested 10 males, ages 15 to 30, on charges of arson, assault on an officer, vandalism, inciting a riot, and refusing to disperse. Nobody was seriously hurt.
Police this week asked for the public’s help to identify at least 25 other suspected rioters whose pictures officers posted on Facebook.
Anyone with more information regarding the names or whereabouts of other suspects was asked to call Huntington Beach Police Sgt. Jerry Abrahams at (714) 536-5649 or (714) 375- 5066, or email investigators at hbpdfiles@gmail.com.
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