A $30,000 reward is being offered for information on the whereabouts of the individual accused of setting fire to nearly a dozen NYPD cars, resulting in $800,000 in damages in Brooklyn earlier this month.
Jakhi Lodgson-McCray, 21, who has faced multiple arrests related to protests, allegedly ignited 11 police vehicles in a Bushwick parking lot on June 12 and has been missing since, according to police.
A variety of law enforcement agencies, including NYPD Crime Stoppers, US Marshals, and ATF, are providing reward money for the capture and conviction of the suspected arsonist, the NYPD announced on Wednesday.
Lodgson-McCray also allegedly destroyed a statue, leading to over $1,000 in damage during a protest at Columbia University in September, according to the NYPD.
“We believe, based on his social media, that he’s very active in the protest community, involving the Free Palestine movement,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said after the arson incident near Patrol Borough Brooklyn North headquarters.
He’s believed to have acted alone during his targeted attack.
“We have him on video for about 40 minutes prior to the incident. He is by himself, and, like I said, a substantial video canvass after the fact, where we track him all the way back to Manhattan,” Kenny told reporters.
“Several times during his escape, he changes his clothing.”
“He’s wearing a hoodie cinched up so you can’t see his face, and wearing a mask,” he added. “But we do believe that he acted alone, and obviously he targeted this location because it is a police facility.”
Logson-McCray was previously arrested for resisting arrest at an anti-ICE protest last month. He’s also been cuffed at several anti-Israel demonstrations, according to records.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact @NYPDTips or call 1-800-577-TIPS.
