Federal agents are putting up a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of a Kennesaw man accused of hurling Molotov cocktails and other incendiary devices at Atlanta’s ICE field office during a July 25, 2020 protest. Investigators say the attack shattered windows and involved fireworks, cinderblocks and lighter fluid, leaving the building with more than $78,000 in damage. A federal arrest warrant for the suspect was issued on July 23, 2025, and the FBI says he should be treated as armed and dangerous.
In a Sept. 5, 2025 press release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia said prosecutors have unsealed charges against Ronald Watson, who also uses the names Sarah Watson, Miranda Kyle and Emily Smith, on counts of arson and destruction of government property. According to the office, investigators linked Watson to the case after reviewing evidence gathered following a January 2023 felony conviction in Oregon. “The right to peacefully protest never excuses acts of violence,” U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said in the statement.
FBI wanted notice and description
The FBI’s wanted notice lays out Watson’s physical description, multiple aliases and distinctive tattoos, and notes that he has ties to both Portland, Oregon, and Atlanta. The bureau warns that he may have changed his appearance and “may be dressing in women’s clothing,” and repeats that there is a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest. The notice also stresses that Watson “should be considered armed and dangerous.”
What authorities say about the 2020 attack
Reporting by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution places the incident on Ted Turner Drive in downtown Atlanta, where masked demonstrators allegedly broke through fencing and threw rocks, cinderblocks and bottles of lighter fluid into the ICE building. Employees scattered as the crowd’s actions left significant damage inside, according to prosecutors, who say the group used modified fireworks and tried to ignite the structure with Molotov cocktails, ultimately causing more than $78,000 in repair costs. The AJC also reports that at least one other person involved in the attack was later prosecuted and sentenced for his role.
Legal status and evidence
Federal court filings and the U.S. Attorney’s Office state that the July 23, 2025 federal arrest warrant charges Watson with “Maliciously Damage, and Attempt to Damage, by Means of Fire or an Explosive” property owned or leased by the United States. Prosecutors say investigators recovered blood near a broken window and a bottle of lighter fluid next to an unexploded device inside the building, and that prior social media posts by Watson included depictions of violence against ICE. The office emphasized that the indictment contains only allegations and that Watson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
How to report tips
The FBI’s Atlanta field office is asking anyone with information to send tips through tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. The bureau’s site includes the full wanted notice and reward information. Investigators with the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations say they are still following leads and urged anyone who may have video or photos from that night to preserve them for potential review by law enforcement.
