Jack Rice Appears on National Radio to Discuss Minneapolis Spider-Man Case, Self-Defense and Defense of Others
Photograph by Chris Juhn
On August 22, 2026, hate and white supremacy rolled up onto a public sidewalk in downtown Minneapolis and created a firestorm. What happened next was almost foreseeable. Add to the mix some of the most amazing photos and video of a superhero defending the citizens of this city and it seemed almost surreal, almost AI. Then the city made a really strange decision. They charged Spider-Man instead of the white supremacists. However, when a criminal case captures national attention, the legal issues behind the headlines can sometimes be lost.
That is why Jack Rice, founder of Jack Rice Defense, has been speaking with radio audiences across the country about a highly unusual Minneapolis criminal case involving a man dressed as Spider-Man who was charged with fifth-degree assault following a confrontation in downtown Minneapolis.
“This is not about the First Amendment. That stopped once those trucks rolled up onto the sidewalk and threatened a bunch of Minneapolis people.”
Jack will appear on AM 950 in Minneapolis, KFNN in Phoenix, KKNW in Seattle, WMLB in Atlanta and WCPT in Chicago to discuss the case, the circumstances surrounding the August 22, 2026 confrontation in front of Minneapolis City Hall, and one of the most important concepts in criminal defense law: self-defense and defense of others.
Jack is representing Spider-Man pro bono, because he believes that every person accused of a crime deserves an experienced criminal defense attorney who will carefully examine the evidence and fight to protect that person's constitutional rights.
What Happened in Downtown Minneapolis?
On August 22, 2026, a group of white supremacists almost created a riot when they rolled giant trucks up onto a public sidewalk immediately in front of Minneapolis City Hall.
The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) had already placed barricades up on the sidewalks to keep counter-protestors on the sidewalk from moving into the street so people were penned between the barricades and the brownstone walls of the old City Hall building. At the same time, the MPD left the street open for traffic and specifically the two trucks filled with hate-spewing, cosplay ICE Agent wannabees carrying a sign with the N word while wrapping themselves in a giant cross and more, to drive in that public street. Rather than doing so, and according to the Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, the white supremacists without permission decided to drive up on the sidewalk instead where all of those Minneapolis citizens were penned in. Also, there have been some unconfirmed reports of weapons being brandished and pepper spray being used as a weapon against citizens. Because of this, a man known publicly as Minneapolis "Spider-Man" became involved in an altercation and was subsequently charged with fifth-degree assault.
“You want to be a racist? An idiot? A disgusting humen being? The Constitution protects that. What is doesn’t protect is acts that are crimes in themselves and creates actual victims because of those crimes.”
The question for the criminal justice system, however, is not simply what happened in the back of that truck.
The critical question is:
What was happening immediately before the physical force was used, and why did Spider-Man reasonably believe force was necessary?
That is where self-defense and defense of others become critically important.
Minnesota Self-Defense Law
Minnesota law recognizes that there are circumstances in which a person may lawfully use reasonable force against another person.
Minnesota Statute § 609.06 provides that reasonable force may be used when a person is resisting—or aiding another person in resisting—an offense against the person.
That means a prosecutor cannot simply look at a few seconds of video showing someone using physical force and conclude that an assault occurred.
The entire sequence has to be examined.
“The law allows you to use reasonable force to protect yourself and other people.”
There are a lot of questions to be asked including:
What happened first?
Was there an immediate threat?
Who initiated the confrontation?
What did the defendant see?
What did the defendant reasonably believe was about to happen?
Was the defendant attempting to protect himself?
Was he attempting to protect someone else?
Was he aware of the reputation of those committing the initial asssault?
Were other people aware of the reputation of those committing the initial assault?
And was the force used reasonable under the circumstances as they appeared to the defendant at that moment?
Those questions can be central to a Minnesota self-defense case.
Defense of Others Can Be Just as Important
One of the issues Jack will discuss in his media appearances is the distinction between self-defense and defense of others.
A person does not necessarily have to be protecting himself to have a lawful justification for using reasonable force.
Minnesota law specifically recognizes the use of reasonable force when a person is defending another person is in fear or imminent harm.
That distinction matters in the Minneapolis Spider-Man case.
“Thank goodness there is videotape and still photos of what happened on that Minneapolis street.”
If someone reasonably believes that another person is being threatened with an unlawful use of force, the law does not necessarily require that person to simply stand by and watch.
The circumstances matter.
The immediacy of the threat matters.
The reasonableness of the response matters.
And the evidence matters.
Why Video Evidence Matters in a Criminal Defense Case
Modern criminal cases are increasingly decided in a world where virtually everything can be recorded. Cellphone videos, surveillance cameras, social media videos and livestreams can provide important evidence—but they can also be misleading when viewed without context.
A short video clip or a still photo may show a critical event has already occurred. However, it may not show what a defendant saw. It may not show what was happening behind the camera. It may not show what another person was doing immediately before the recorded moment. Most importantly, it may not show the actions that caused the fear of imminent harm in the first place.
For a Minnesota criminal defense attorney, reviewing the entire evidentiary picture is essential.
That includes video, photographs, witness statements, police reports, physical evidence, 911 calls, social-media posts and the timeline of the entire encounter.
In a self-defense case, the difference between seeing an isolated act and understanding the circumstances leading up to that act can be enormous.
“After doing this for decades and raising my right hand and swearing an oath to defend my country which I did as a CIA Officer and then again as a prosecutor and even a criminal defense attorney, I had to step up for free. This case is about a lot more than a misdemeanor charge.”
Jack Rice: Former Prosecutor and Criminal Defense Attorney
Jack Rice brings a unique perspective to cases involving allegations of violence.
He is a former prosecutor, former CIA Officer and Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist with almost 30 years of criminal trial experience.
As a former prosecutor, Jack understands how prosecutors evaluate evidence and build assault cases.
As a criminal defense attorney, he also understands that the government's version of events is not automatically the complete story.
His job is to investigate.
His job is to challenge assumptions.
His job is to examine the evidence.
And when the evidence supports a lawful defense such as self-defense or defense of others, his job is to make sure that defense is presented forcefully.
Why Jack Rice Took the Minneapolis Spider-Man Case Pro Bono
Jack's decision to represent Spider-Man pro bono reflects something fundamental about criminal defense.
A criminal accusation can have consequences far beyond the courtroom.
Even a misdemeanor assault charge can affect a person's reputation, employment, relationships and future.
Every criminal defendant deserves to have the evidence examined carefully and the law applied fairly.
That is particularly important when the central issue is whether someone committed an assault—or whether that person was lawfully responding to a perceived threat against himself or another person.
National Attention on a Minnesota Criminal Defense Case
The unusual circumstances of the case have generated significant interest well beyond Minnesota.
Jack's appearances on AM 950 in Minneapolis, KFNN in Phoenix, KKNW in Seattle, WMLB in Atlanta and WCPT in Chicago will provide an opportunity to discuss the legal issues with audiences across the country. It is also about way more than Minnesota. It is about the First Amendment, the right to stand up, to defend yourself and more.
But beneath the unusual Spider-Man headlines is a very serious legal question:
When does using force constitute a crime, and when is that force legally justified?
That is a question Minnesota criminal defense attorneys confront in assault cases throughout the state.
Facing an Assault Charge in Minnesota?
An allegation of assault does not tell the entire story.
If you are facing a Minnesota assault charge, the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident can be critical. Questions involving self-defense, defense of others, justification, the actions of other people, witness credibility and video evidence can all potentially affect the defense of a case.
If you are facing criminal charges or an allegation of assault anywhere in Minnesota, contact Jack Rice Defense for a free confidential consultation.
Call 651-447-7650 or 612-227-1339.
When your job, career, reputation and life are on the line, make sure Jack Rice Defense is by your side.