Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of JAMES CARLSON, 40, for burning another person’s Israeli flag during an April 20 protest at Columbia University. CARLSON is also charged with damaging police property inside of a holding cell while being processed following his arrest at an April 30 protest at Columbia. CARLSON is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count of Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree; two counts of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree; and one count of Arson in the Fifth Degree. [1] 

CARLSON also has a separate and ongoing case for unlawfully entering Hamilton Hall at Columbia University on April 30th, where he is charged with Trespass in the Third Degree. He is not a student, staff, or faculty member at Columbia. 

The investigation into CARLSON remains ongoing. 

“This defendant’s alleged activity went beyond legal and peaceful protest. Committing arson in a crowded protest endangers the safety of others, and this type of behavior will not be tolerated” said District Attorney Bragg. “We will continue to work closely with the NYPD and local colleges and universities to ensure the safety of students, staff and community members during any protest or demonstration.” 

According to court documents and statements made on the record, on April 20, CARLSON was attending a protest at Columbia University. The complaining witness, who is Jewish, had his Israeli flag stolen by another protestor. Before the witness could retrieve the flag from the other protestor, CARLSON seized it and began burning it with a lighter but was thwarted from fully lighting the flag on fire when the witness pulled it away. 

On April 30, Carlson was arrested for unlawfully entering Hamilton Hall at Columbia University and was arraigned on Trespass in the Third Degree. As he was being processed by the NYPD at 1 Police Plaza, he kicked and broke a glass panel in a holding cell. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A. Ryan Falk, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Siobhan Carty (Chief of Trial Bureau 80), Assistant D.A. Shawn McMahon (Deputy Chief of the Trial Division) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). 

D.A. Bragg thanked Columbia University and the NYPD, especially Detectives Adrian Johnson and Guido Herrera.

Defendant Information: 

JAMES CARLSON 

Brooklyn, New York 

Charged: 

• Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree, a class E felony, one count 
• Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, two counts 
• Arson in the Fifth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count 

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.