Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, Proud Boys Officer Arrested for Burning Black Lives Matter Banner at DC Church

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A law enforcement official told CNN that the DC Metropolitan Police Department accused Tarrio, of Miami, of destroying property related to a banner that was burnt on December 12 outside a northern church. -west of DC.

DC Metropolitan Police Department Public Information Officer Sean Hickman separately told CNN that Tarrio was charged with possession of gun magazines.

“He has been charged with destruction of property in connection with an offense that occurred on Saturday, December 12, 2020 in the 900 block of 11th Street, Northwest,” Hickman said. “At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of two high capacity gun magazines. He was also charged with possession of a large capacity feeder.”

Tarrio did not return CNN calls or texts on Monday. He took responsibility for the act last month, writing in a post on the Talking social media website that “against my attorney’s will, I’m here today to admit that I’m the person responsible for the act. ‘fire of this sign. ” In the same post, Tarrio also challenged the police to arrest him, writing: “Come and get me if you think what I did was wrong. We’ll let the public decide.”

Tarrio also took responsibility during an interview on the “WarBoys” podcast last month, bragging about being “the person who went ahead and put the lighter on and engulfed him in flames” .

“And I’m really proud that I did it,” he said.

CNN also attempted to contact Tarrio for comment in December after the incident.

The burning sign came during a protest in Washington that saw at least four people stabbed and at least 33 arrested. Large groups of protesters and counter-protesters gathered earlier in the day outside the Supreme Court building and at Freedom Plaza to protest the presidential election results.

Videos circulating on social media showed scuffles and small brawls had broken out sporadically, but large gatherings were mostly peaceful.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a statement at the time calling for unity.

“This weekend we have seen forces of hate seeking to use destruction and intimidation to separate us. We will not let this happen and we will continue to stand in solidarity and united with love,” Bowser said. .

A far-right collective, members of the Proud Boys have been seen – many dressed in black and yellow polo shirts – at several Trump 2020 campaign rallies.

Founded in 2016, the group lists among its central principles the belief in “closed borders” and the objective of “reestablishing a spirit of Western chauvinism”. In online statements, Proud Boys claimed to have used violence only in self-defense. But members are often seen carrying guns and bats and donning protective gear, and some have been convicted of crimes against anti-fascist protesters. The group’s ideology has been called “misogynistic, Islamophobic, transphobic and anti-immigration” by the Anti-Defamation League.

CNN’s Elle Reeve and Nicky Robertson contributed to this report.

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