The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a reward of up to $100,000 on Friday (January 16) for information regarding the vandalism and theft of multiple federal law enforcement vehicles in Minneapolis.
FBI Director Kash Patel released a statement on social media platform X on the 15th, stating that the FBI would offer a maximum reward of $100,000 for information leading to the recovery of stolen government property and the arrest of suspects involved in the destruction and theft of government property.
He emphasized, “If you harm law enforcement officers or damage, steal federal property, the FBI will not hesitate to pursue you, find you, and bring you to justice, subjecting you to the severest penalties.”
The announcement by the FBI Director also included a poster with three photographs showing law enforcement vehicles vandalized and spray-painted with crude graffiti. The notice provided contact information for reporting: the public can call 800-225-5324 or submit tips through the website tips.fbi.gov.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem clarified that the damaged vehicles belonged to the FBI, not the DHS. The FBI responded to assist in the investigation following a shooting incident.
In recent days, amid federal law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conducting operations against illegal immigration, officers have faced attacks from some protesters and rioters. Multiple incidents have occurred where law enforcement officers have resorted to using firearms for self-defense, resulting in casualties.
Videos captured by witnesses at the scenes of conflict show that during clashes between protesters and law enforcement, multiple federal vehicles were left unattended in the chaos. Subsequent videos revealed these vehicles being looted and vandalized.
Footage confirmed that protesters removed documents and other items from the vehicles. In a video watermark labelled “Status Coup,” a woman displayed documents she retrieved from a vandalized law enforcement vehicle, containing operational information of the FBI, including full names of agents, phone numbers, emails, agents’ stations, maps of immigrant detention locations, hotel names, and the names of judges.
She mentioned that the documents included instructions on “operational posture,” guiding agents on how to stand and deal with protesters.
Another video uploaded to social media by photographer and independent journalist Brendan Gutenschwager showed a group of people dragging what appeared to be a safe containing weapons from one vehicle to another.
The White House expressed anger over the attacks on law enforcement officers and vehicles. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt displayed photos of the damaged vehicles during a briefing on the 15th, pointing out graffiti on one vehicle reading “Fxxx ICE” and slogans on another vehicle suggesting, “The best agents are dead agents.”
Andrew Mercado, founder and editor-in-chief of the independent news platform Mercado Media in Minnesota, revealed in a live broadcast on the evening of January 14 that he witnessed protesters obtaining the “full ICE operations plan” from a vandalized and looted SUV.
He also turned the camera to an abandoned vehicle, showing protective vests, walkie-talkies, and two agents’ badges taken by protesters, with various documents scattered on the ground. He confirmed that at least one more law enforcement vehicle had suffered similar destruction.