Seattle property owner Joseph Wanagel told “Fox & Friends” on Monday that “enough is enough,” after a violent weekend in the city.
“It is a difficult situation,” Wanagel said.
Seattle police said at least 59 officers were injured during Saturday’s protests when they were hit with explosives, rocks, bottles and wood. They added that the injuries include burns, bruises and a torn meniscus. Most of the injured officers were able to return to work, police said in a Twitter message.
Officers were wounded after driving protesters away from the East Precinct after police said protesters threw an explosive into the building causing structural damage.
Police reported numerous fires and explosions on Saturday, Q13 Fox reported.
A Starbucks store was reportedly destroyed and other companies were covered in graffiti.
Forty-seven people were arrested at the end of the protest, police said.
Host Brian Kilmeade asked Wanagel, “What have you witnessed in the past few weeks and what has it done to you and your neighbors?”
“I have witnessed people rolling AK-47s, continually protesters who essentially come into battle, with things to throw at people,” Wanagel replied, adding that he also witnessed protesters bringing “explosives.”
“They put a hole in the East Precinct,” he continued. “They are destroying everything. They’re spraying everything. I don’t know how anyone would want to live in that neighborhood. It is very difficult.”
SEATTLE POLICE DECLARES RIOT AFTER PROTESTORS SET FIRE ON CONSTRUCTION SITE
Similar protests and violent demonstrations have been seen across the country after the death of George Floyd, a black man in Minnesota who died while in police custody. Video of the May 25 meeting with police officers showed a white officer putting his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes. Floyd died later that day.
Kilmeade asked Wanagel: “When people say it is a peaceful protest against racial inequality in the United States, what do you say?”
“I say that is not true,” replied Wanagel. “These people are criminals running around there. Enough is enough.”
“The Black Lives Matter people left a long time ago,” he continued. “Now only people use that to crush and grab. It is not completely realistic. This is just ridiculous. “
Kilmeade then said, “If I rent you an apartment, I’m probably not very happy right now.” Many say you can keep my department. I’m out of here. You have to rent those empty apartments and how can you ask for the same amount considering that the only thing you can promise is more destruction?
“That’s exactly it,” said Wanagel. “When you have literally thousands of people walking in front of your building carrying explosives, guns, covered in riot gear to attack the police, I mean, what are you supposed to say to a potential tenant?”
“How long are these people going to attack this neighborhood? We have not done anything. Why don’t you leave us alone? he continued asking.
Kilmeade later noted that President Trump “wants to send some federal agents” and said: “People think he is the bad guy.”
“The way it’s supposed to work is … if the city can’t handle it, call the county. If the county can’t handle it, call the feds, so I don’t know why we are living in a world right now where we are not cooperating with federal officials. [people are] denouncing and ridiculing them, ”said Wanagel.
“The people on the ground, the county police and sheriffs and federal officials, are not bad people,” he continued.
Then he recognized that “in any organization” there is the possibility of “a bad actor here and there.”
“But overall, we should work together to try to make a better place for all of us to live, without discussion,” Wanagel said.
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“We are dealing with this day to day of horrible circumstances because it seems that [it is] most important to them [local officials] discuss with each other that trying to solve the problem, “he added.
Fox News’ Dom Calicchio contributed to this report.
