A 20-year-old Richmond man has been charged with five felonies and a misdemeanor in connection with property damage in and around Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park campus during recent unrest.
Lucas Couturier was arrested Wednesday and charged by Richmond police with misdemeanor arson and felony conspiracy to commit a riot. VCU police also charged him with two counts of destruction of property and two counts of inciting a riot, all of which are felonies.
The man is not associated with the university, VCU police said.
All the charges arise from “extensive property damage and rioting” on July 25 and overnight into July 26, according to the two departments, which sent out separate releases.
“Police hoped that releasing footage to the public via local media, social media and Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers would lead to the identification of those involved,” VCU police said. “The social media posts and videos received thousands of shares and views.”
Police continue to investigate additional property damage.
Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call the VCU Police nonemergency line at (804) 828-1196 or to send in tips on the LiveSafe app. Tips can also be submitted to Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000 or on the P3 Tips mobile app.
PHOTOS: Protesters set fire to city truck, police respond with flash-bangs and pepper spray
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020.
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020.
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Protesters gathered at North 3rd and East Broad streets on Saturday, July 25, 2020.
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Protesters set fire to a city truck.
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Protesters lit up a city truck used to block streets.
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Protesters gathered at North 3rd and East Broad streets on Saturday, July 25, 2020.
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police dispersed the group using flash-bangs and pepper spray.
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020.
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Firefighters extinguish the flames after protesters set fire to a truck used to block access to Richmond police headquarters. BELOW LEFT: Windows were broken at the VCU Grace and Broad Resident Center as protesters marched through the area.
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020.
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Protesters set fire to a truck used as a street block.
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020.
JOE MAHONEY/TIMES-DISPATCH/
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020.
JOE MAHONEY/TIMES-DISPATCH/
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020.
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020.
JOE MAHONEY/TIMES-DISPATCH/
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020.
JOE MAHONEY/TIMES-DISPATCH/
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Police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police used flash-bangs and pepper spray aerosol to disperse the crowd.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire. Protesters celebrate setting fire to a city utility vehicle.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned about long-term health risks from tear gas exposure.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire. Firefighters respond to a fire set in a city utility vehicle.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire. Firefighters put out a dumpster fire near police headquarters.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire.
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Police made arrests on Main Street.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire. Police made arrests on Main Street.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire. Glass littered the sidewalk on Grace Street at VCU.
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Protesters marched on the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police deployed flash-bangs and pepper spray to disperse the crowd after a city utility vehicle was set on fire. Windows were broken at the VCU Grace and Broad Resident Center as protesters marched through the area.
JAMES H. WALLACE/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Clean-up and restoration crews worked Sunday morning, to patch damaged buildings on Grace Street in Richmond on July 26, 2020. After police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, windows were broken along Grace Street.
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Clean-up and restoration crews worked Sunday morning, to patch damaged buildings on Grace Street in Richmond on July 26, 2020. After police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, windows were broken along Grace Street.
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Clean-up and restoration crews worked Sunday morning, to patch damaged buildings on Grace Street in Richmond on July 26, 2020. After police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, windows were broken along Grace Street.
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Cleanup and restoration crews worked Sunday morning to patch damaged buildings along Grace Street in Richmond. Windows were broken along the street during the protests.
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Clean-up and restoration crews worked Sunday morning, to patch damaged buildings on Grace Street in Richmond on July 26, 2020. After police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, windows were broken along Grace Street.
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Clean-up and restoration crews worked Sunday morning, to patch damaged buildings on Grace Street in Richmond on July 26, 2020. After police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, windows were broken along Grace Street.
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Clean-up and restoration crews worked Sunday morning, to patch damaged buildings on Grace Street in Richmond on July 26, 2020. After police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, windows were broken along Grace Street.
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Clean-up and restoration crews worked Sunday morning, to patch damaged buildings on Grace Street in Richmond on July 26, 2020. After police and protesters squared off outside the RPD headquarters on Grace Street on Saturday, July 25, windows were broken along Grace Street.
DEAN HOFFMEYER/TIMES-DISPATCH/