A FORMER radio news reporter has been charged with vandalising and "firebombing" police cars during Black Lives Matter protests.
BLM supporter Renea Goddard, 22, was charged last week with allegedly sneaking into the Arkansas Police HQ in Little Rocklast August to slash squad car tires and set them alight with Molotov cocktails.
The US Attorney’s Office said in a release: “One vehicle had been set on fire, one had been vandalized with spray paint, and several others had punctured tires.
“Investigators discovered a detonated Molotov cocktail made from a bottle of brandy," it added.
Goddard, a former host for KUAR Public Radio, was identified by witnesses as allegedly being part of the attack.
Prosecutors claim surveillance footage shows her entering the area in dark clothing.
“Federal search warrants were executed to obtain the locations of their cell phones, and cell site data confirmed that their cell phones were in the location,” the release said.
According to federal court records obtained by ABC7, she was arrested and released from jail on December 17.
It came after an investigation by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that lasted several months.
“Breaking into a police compound and firebombing a police vehicle with a homemade explosive device is clearly not a peaceful protest,” US Attorney Cody Hiland said of the four charged.
KUAR confirmed to ABC 7 that Goddard had been a part-time employee at the radio station, but said she was not working there when she was arrested.
“At the time of the incident, the individual had not been affiliated with the radio station for over six months,” a spokesperson said.
Three others were arrested as a result of the tip off to police.
Prosecutors say Brittany Dawn Jeffrey, 31, Emily Nowlin, 27, and Aline Espinosa-Villegas, 24, were all arrested during the same operation.
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