Rioting, arson charges filed in 2016 Sherman Park unrest

A federal prosecutor has filed rioting and arson charges in connection with last year’s violent unrest in Sherman Park.

Stephen Ruffin, a Milwaukee resident in his 30s, was charged with rioting, arson and arson in connection with a felony. The charges are related to the Aug. 14 arson at Big Jim's Liquor Store, 2161 N. Hopkins St., in Milwaukee and are the first to be filed for any of the arson fires last year.

Riots broke out in parts of the Sherman Park neighborhood following the shooting of Sylville Smith, 23, by former Milwaukee police officer Dominique Heaggan-Brown. Heaggan-Brown was found not guilty of first-degree reckless homicide in June.

The complaint states people set fire to an additional six businesses, including a BP gas station, O'Reilly's Auto Parts and BMO Harris Bank. 

Throughout the riots last year, at least six squad cars were damaged, at least four officers injured and two teens were wounded in separate shootings. Damage from the unrest was estimated at $5.8 million.

In a separate incident, an unsealed warrant revealed that police were investigating a Milwaukee man for making Molotov cocktails that were used to commit the other arsons. Police also used Facebook and Instagram video to investigate the arsons and looting, according to unsealed warrants.

At least four people were charged with stealing items from businesses during the looting.

Last month, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sought two suspects with important information regarding the arsons. 

Agents from the ATF identified Ruffin as the person setting fire to the liquor store with surveillance footage and help with different suspects of interest.

COMPLETE COVERAGE:Milwaukee Sherman Park turmoil

Footage from the incident showed Ruffin and another man purchase alcohol in the store about 8:15 p.m., according to the complaint. About midnight, Ruffin and two unidentified men showed up at the rear entrance of Big Jim's with bolt cutters, but they failed to gain entry and left. 

An hour later, Ruffin and an unidentified man returned to the rear entrance where they sprayed charcoal lighter fluid around the liquor store's air conditioning unit and attempted to break in through the back door again. Shortly after, the men ignited an unidentified item and placed it next to the door and left. The fire caused structural and external damage to the store.

Officers searched Ruffin's residence, where they found clothing that matched the security footage and his cellphone. Cellphone records indicated Ruffin used the phone around Big Jim's several times near the time of the arson on Aug. 14.

Several texts on the phone also indicated that Ruffin participated in the unrest around Milwaukee, the complaint reads.

At about midnight, Ruffin received a text asking if he was home.

"I'm rioting with 'em," he wrote back.

An hour later, at 1:22 a.m., someone texted him asking why he hadn't called.

"It's a riot out here," he responded.

The liquor store arson happened at about 1:54 a.m.

If convicted, Ruffin could face a maximum of five years on the rioting charge, between five and 20 years on the arson charge and a minimum of 10 years on the second arson charge.

Ruffin has been released from detention by the court and is due to appear in court next week.