Rioter wearing a Joker mask is arrested for torching a Chicago police car after cops were able to identity him because he forgot to cover his ‘PRETTY’ neck tattoo
- Timothy O’Donnell, 31, was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday for allegedly torching a squad car during a protest in downtown Chicago at the weekend
- Investigators say that even though O’Donnell was wearing a Joker mask at the time, they managed to track him down because he forgot to hide his neck tattoo
- Authorities say O’Donnell was caught on camera by a witness placing a lit object into the gas tank of the marked police vehicle
- The police car subsequently went up in flames soon after O’Donnell was pictured handling the gas tank
- He was later pictured sitting near the SUV and posing for photos
A rioter wearing a Joker mask has been charged with setting fire to a Chicago Police Department car during protests after investigators say he forgot to cover his distinctive neck tattoo.
Timothy O’Donnell, 31, was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday for allegedly torching the squad car during a protest in downtown Chicago at the weekend.
Investigators say that even though O’Donnell was wearing a Joker mask at the time, they managed to track him down within days because he forgot to hide his neck tattoo that says ‘pretty’.
Authorities say O’Donnell was caught on camera by a witness placing a lit object into the gas tank of the marked police vehicle as officers were responding to reports of unrest in the city when peaceful protests turned violent.
Timothy O’Donnell, 31, was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday for allegedly torching the squad car during a protest in downtown Chicago at the weekend. Authorities say O’Donnell was caught on camera by a witness placing a lit object into the gas tank of the marked police vehicle
Timothy O’Donnell, 31, was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday for allegedly torching the squad car during a protest in downtown Chicago at the weekend. Investigators say they identified him because of his distinctive neck tattoo
The police car subsequently went up in flames soon after O’Donnell was pictured handling the gas tank.
He was later pictured sitting near the SUV and posing for photos.
In at least one photo, O’Donnell’s distinctive ‘PRETTY’ tattoo is clearly visible.
Authorities say a booking photo from a prior offense shows O’Donnell with the same neck tattoo.
Federal investigators say they also reviewed surveillance footage of the incident that showed O’Donnell setting the car ablaze.
The FBI raided his apartment on Tuesday and located the Joker mask in his bedroom.
The police car subsequently went up in flames soon after O’Donnell was pictured handling the gas tank. He was later pictured sitting near the SUV and posing for photos
Investigators say he admitted during an interview with officers that he was the person wearing the Joker mask in the photos taken by the witness.
O’Donnell has been charged with a federal count of arson.
He faces between five and 20 years in prison if convicted.
Following his arrest, US Attorney Lausch said: ‘Anyone involved in destructive behavior – such as setting fire to a police car – should know that federal law enforcement will use all tools available to us to hold them accountable.
‘We will continue to work with the Chicago Police Department and our federal and state partners to apprehend and charge arsonists and others engaging in violent crime.’
The police car went up in flames shortly after authorities say O’Donnell handled the gas tank
A Chicago Police officer stands guard as the squad car burned out during citywide protests on Saturday