Arrest warrant issued for woman who allegedly set Wendy's in Atlanta on fire

An Atlanta Wendy's was set on fire after Rayshard Brooks' murder.

June 20, 2020, 3:59 PM

An arrest warrant was issued on Saturday by Atlanta fire officials for a 29-year-old woman accused of setting fire to a Wendy's restaurant hours after Rayshard Brooks was seen on surveillance video fatally shot by a police officer.

Natalie White was charged with first-degree arson by Atlanta Fire Rescue Department Fire Investigators for torching the Wendy's on University Avenue on June 13.

The fast-food restaurant was set on fire after 27-year-old Brooks was shot in the back by former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe. The shooting was captured on cameras from the police dash camera, body cameras, bystanders and the restaurant's surveillance camera.

PHOTO: Flames engulf a Wendy's restaurant during protests in Atlanta, June 13, 2020. The restaurant was where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by police the previous evening.
Flames engulf a Wendy's restaurant during protests in Atlanta, June 13, 2020. The restaurant was where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by police the previous evening.
Brynn Anderson/AP

A 911 call was made by a Wendy's employee after Brooks fell asleep behind the wheel while in the drive-thru line.

The first responding officer Devin Brosnan woke Brooks up and had him drive the car out of the line.

Brosnan suspected Brooks was intoxicated and called for a field sobriety test, shortly after Rolfe arrived on the scene.

The situation escalated as Brooks resisted arrest, grabbed Brosnan's stun gun during the scuffle and ran away, the video shows.

Brooks' Breathalyzer test registered a blood-alcohol level of .108%, above the legal limit of .08%.

PHOTO: Rayshard Brooks, a father of three daughters and a stepson, was shot and killed by police in Atlanta, June 12, 2020.
Rayshard Brooks, a father of three daughters and a stepson, was shot and killed by police in Atlanta, June 12, 2020.
Stewart Trial Attorneys

Brooks then allegedly pointed the stun gun at Rolfe who, in turn, unholstered his stun gun and service weapon, the video shows. Rolfe opened fired and hit Brooks twice in the back, the video shows.

Protests erupted at the Wendy's and at some point White allegedly set fire to the building.

PHOTO: An arrest warrant has been issued by Atlanta Fire Investigators for Natalie White, identified as a suspect in the arson fire that burned down the Wendy’s Restaurant (125 University Ave), on June 13, 2020.
An arrest warrant has been issued by Atlanta Fire Investigators for Natalie White, identified as a suspect in the arson fire that burned down the Wendy’s Restaurant (125 University Ave), on June 13, 2020.
Atlanta Fire & Rescue via Twitter

The inside of the brick property was destroyed. "This is an ongoing investigation and additional arrests are possible," fire officials said.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of White or anyone who has information related to this crime is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS or the Arson Tip Line at 1-800-282-5804.

Both Brosnan and Rolfe were fired from the Atlanta Police Department and criminally charged by the Fulton County District Attorney's Office.

PHOTO: In these mugshots released by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan are shown.
In these mugshots released by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan are shown.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office

Rolfe was charged with felony murder and aggravated assault. If convicted of felony murder, Rolfe could face the death penalty, prosecutors said.

Brosnan is facing two charges of violations of oath and a charge of aggravated assault for allegedly standing on Brooks' shoulder after he was shot by Rolfe, prosecutors said.

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