54 Arrested After Unlawful Assembly Declared Outside Whipple Building in Minneapolis Following Chaotic Protest
Published: February 8th, 2026
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Minnesota State Patrol troopers assisted the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, February 7th, during a series of arrests connected to an unlawful assembly outside the Federal Whipple Building in Minneapolis.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, they were requested to provide support as conditions at the Whipple Building escalated. The agency said multiple dispersal orders were issued before arrests were made to maintain public and traffic safety in the area.
Arrests and Charges
A total of 54 arrests were reported during the incident, with the Minnesota State Patrol accounting for 25. Individuals were cited and released or booked into the Hennepin County Jail depending on the alleged offenses.
Presence at an unlawful assembly — cited and released:
Lolly Remel Saunders, 38, Crystal
Heidi Elizabeth Murphy, 39, Andover
Sheilah Marie Seaberg, 65, St. Paul
Nicole Lee Meyer, 42, Appleton
Travis Jay Menz, 36, Minneapolis
Gabrielle Christine Holboy, 23, Braham
Dylan James Casteel, 31, Eden Prairie
Katherine Louise Morin, 46, St. Paul
Scott Allen Wilson, 63, Savage
Allyson Bailey Wilson, 29, Savage
Corey Stephen Livingston, 34, Minneapolis
Sergio E. Deniz, 45, Apple Valley
Kyle Jared Rubenstein, 34, Chicago, Illinois
Avina Hope Sierra, 30, St. Paul
Erik John Tate, 46, Minneapolis
Noah Michael Tilsen, 42, St. Paul
Presence at an unlawful assembly and fleeing on foot — cited and released:
Ryan Nguyen Van Wagener, 23, Plymouth
Presence at an unlawful assembly and obstructing legal process — booked into Hennepin County Jail:
Thomas Alphonse Welna, 64, St. Paul
Heidi Elizabeth Murphy, 39, Andover
Megan Elizabeth Siegel, 38, Shabbona, Illinois
Edward G. Reyes Vera, 27, Joliet, Illinois
Antonio Dominic Villella, 27, Frederic, Wisconsin
Lucas Xavier Webber, 23, St. Paul
Craig Aldrich Jesseman, 55, Aurora, Illinois
Presence at an unlawful assembly, fourth-degree assault, and obstructing legal process — booked into Hennepin County Jail:
Zena Violet Martin, 21, Burnsville
Officials said all cases remain open.
Use of force and injuries
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, minimal force was used during the arrests, with no weapons or strikes employed. No injuries were reported among those arrested, while one trooper sustained a minor injury.
In a statement, the agency emphasized that it “respects the right to lawfully and peacefully demonstrate,” adding that its role is to balance those rights with the need to protect people, property, and critical infrastructure.
Events Leading up to the Arrests
Following his arrest on February 5th, 2026, and his later release from Ramsey County Jail on February 6th for Felony1st Degree Damage to Property at the Minnesota State Capitol, which you can read more about here: Pardoned Jan. 6er Jake Lang arrested after damaging Anti ICE sculpture at the Minnesota State Capitol, Jake Lang announced he would be having a press conference at the Whipple Building, Saturday afternoon, February 7th, 2026.
According to witness reports, the appearance involved Jake Lang and a small group who arrived in a rented U-Haul truck. Several individuals were seen standing in the back of the vehicle, with the door open, holding a wooden cross. Witness accounts indicate that pepper balls were fired and mace was sprayed toward people in the crowd during that brief appearance, with Jake Lang and crew departing only a few minutes later.
The image above, captured by 38th Street Media and shared by Mercado Media, shows Lang and others in the back of a U-Haul truck, carrying a cross.
As the afternoon continued, demonstrators placed sex toys along a chain-link fence outside the Whipple Building and threw some into the street. Authorities said several items were tossed toward officers, and others landed near passing vehicles, raising additional safety concerns. Photos and videos shared on social media later showed objects being thrown toward vehicles believed to be operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local law enforcement, as well as demonstrators occupying the roadway in front of the Whipple Building. Some of the videos online of the incident show protesters dubbing this “Operation Dildo Blitz.”
Officials said the gathering was ultimately declared an unlawful assembly later in the afternoon, after which arrests were made.
Written by Will Wight.
Photos and Video captured by 38th Street Media, Jolly Good Ginger, and Mercado Media.
Cover photo is a screenshot from the Mercado Media video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17mx7NkUHX/
