A man was arrested on Wednesday for reportedly tossing a flaming hat at an NYPD officer’s home during a protest over the cop’s alleged rough-housing of demonstrators at an earlier rally. Terrell Harper, 42, and other protesters gathered outside the officer’s residence in Sunset Park, Brooklyn on Monday night after the officer allegedly “put his hands on protesters” during a separate protest at a police station a day prior. The known police provoker was seen with a group of protesters standing in the front yard of the home, chanting for the victim to come outside when he lit a hat on fire and threw it towards the residence. Videos posted online show protesters outside the officer’s house chanted “We want Justin!” and yelled at him to come outside in an apparent attempt to scare the officer.
Harper later took to Instagram, boasting about the protest at the cop’s house. He mentioned that the group plans to continue harassing police officers by making house visits. The targeted officer is not involved with the recent “friendly fire” police shooting incident that left one of their innocent victims clinging to life.
Harper was arrested on Wednesday and charged with burglary, coercion, inciting to riot, aggravated harassment, criminal mischief, tampering, arson, and menacing. The officer’s home is currently being watched by additional police officers as added security measures, but Harper warned in his video that they planned on making house visits to other officers at the station. However, he was also charged with menacing and harassment for threatening another NYPD sergeant earlier this week.
Police supporters have criticized these targeted protests against police officers, arguing that these activists are not interested in justice or accountability but rather aim to stop police officers from doing their jobs by targeting them for harassment or worse.
