Ex-Washington state lawmaker’s teen son charged with arson during Seattle riots

A former Washington state lawmaker’s stepson has been charged with setting fires during Seattle riots — and is also suspected of hitting a cop in the head with a baseball bat, according to reports.

Democrat Laura Ruderman — a state representative from 1999 until 2005 — appeared in court Monday to vouch for 19-year-old stepson Jacob Greenburg after he was charged with arson for setting dumpster fires during recent riots in the Emerald City, KOMO News said.

“I’ve served the state in the legislature we will make sure he follows all the provision,” Ruderman told the court, calling her stepson “basically a good kid” and a “straight ‘A’ student.”

Court records show that as well as the dumpster fires, the teen is also a “strong suspect for another arson attack” where Molotov cocktails were thrown at cops guarding their police precinct, KOMO News said.

Cops searching his home then found a baseball bat and an outfit matching one worn by a man caught in video attacking an officer over the head during recent Breonna Taylor protests, KTTH 770 said.

He has not been charged for that attack, but court documents say he is a “strong suspect in recent felony assault which is currently under investigation,” KOMO said.

Prosecutors asked for Greenburg to be held on $350,000 bail. But the teen was soon released after the judge set bail at just $20,000.

“It’s understandable that people in Seattle look at the vandalism, property destruction and violence and say, ‘what’s happening here?’” Casey McNerthney of the King County Prosecutor’s Office told KOMO.

“The most difficult part I think is for people who don’t understand the court system, who don’t realize that the prosecutor’s office wants to hold people who commit violent acts in jail.

“Ultimately whether somebody stays in jail or not at a first appearance is up to a judge.”

Greenburg’s attorney, Jason Lantz, told KOMO News that police busted the wrong person in the “chaotic situation with dozens, hundreds of people that have very generic clothing.”

“They made a snap judgment,” he insisted.

Stepmom Ruderman was the vice chair of the Technology, Telecommunications, and Energy Committee, and also served on the Appropriations, Rules, and Health Care Committees, KTTH 770 said.

She did not respond to requests for comment from the station.

*story by The New York Post