A protest outside a Minnesota hotel Monday night escalated into arrests after demonstrators, believing a Border Patrol Commander was present, allegedly began damaging property and clashing with officers. The Maple Grove Police Department responded to reports of the demonstration, declaring it an unlawful assembly when the situation turned volatile.
Authorities stated that while they uphold the right to peaceful assembly, criminal acts fall outside First Amendment protections. Thirteen individuals were taken into custody following the dispersal order, each facing varying charges related to the unrest.
Among those arrested was Justin Neal Shelton, charged with obstructing legal process. Shelton’s past reveals a 2007 conviction for first-degree aggravated robbery, stemming from a brutal attack on a pregnant woman during a carjacking attempt. He reportedly continued to assault her even after she was knocked to the ground, apologizing later while acknowledging intoxication wasn’t an excuse.
Abraham Nelson Coleman, 45, faces charges of damage to property, but his record shows a pattern of similar offenses dating back to 2003, including multiple theft and property damage convictions. The repeated nature of these charges paints a concerning picture.
Jaylynn Marie Rodriguez, a 24-year-old law student at the University of Minnesota, was arrested on riot charges. Her background includes involvement in social justice organizations during her time at Macalester College, where she focused on cultural programming and social justice initiatives.
Rayna Michelle Alston, 21, also arrested for riot, openly embraced a defiant stance online. Her Instagram profile prominently displayed the slogan “disrupt disturb resist,” and a recent story promoted a “Nationwide shutdown” with calls to halt work, school, and shopping on January 30th.
Josephine Jay Guilbeau, 37, facing riot charges, has a history of disruptive activism. She was previously escorted from a U.S. Senate hearing after accusing committee members of complicity in genocide, documenting the recent protest as a “military operation” on social media.
Freya Ebbesen, 23, a birth assistant and clinic nurse, was arrested on riot charges. Her professional life contrasts sharply with the events of Monday night, raising questions about the motivations driving her involvement.
Cashmere Hamilton-Grunau, 19, a former football player at Morehouse College, was also arrested for riot. His athletic background offers another layer to the diverse group involved in the demonstration.
John Linden Gribble, 40, arrested on riot charges, has prior convictions for driving under the influence. This adds another dimension to the profiles of those involved in the protest.
Samantha Faye Muchowski, 24, Baley Rae Schlosser, 26, Sarah Nicole Workman, 28, Oliver Kilgore Jones, 27, and Megan Ashley Larson, 24, were all arrested on riot or damage to property charges, completing the list of those taken into custody during the escalating demonstration.
The arrests highlight a complex situation where deeply held beliefs intersected with alleged unlawful behavior, prompting a police response and raising questions about the boundaries of protest and the consequences of crossing them.
