Proud Boys boss Enrique Tarrio ordered to stay away from DC after his arrest

Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the right-wing group the Proud Boys, has been ordered to stay away from Washington, DC, after being arrested for vandalism and weapons. The move comes a day before pro-Trump protests are scheduled in Washington as Congress meets to count the votes of the electoral college before the elected president Joe bideninauguration on January 20.

Tarrio was released on Tuesday, but Judge Renee Raymond ordered him to stay away from Washington. Raymond said the government’s request for Tarrio to stay away was reasonable given his previous statements about burning anything associated with Black Lives Matter, Raymond also ordered Tarrio not to own any firearm or ammunition while in Washington.

Tarrio was arrested Monday after arriving in Washington on a charge stemming from the destruction of a Black Lives Matter banner at a historically black church. He was found to be in possession of several large-capacity firearms on felony charges.

Mr Trump urged his supporters to rally in Washington to protest the election results, and he tweeted that he would be there. Congress will meet on Wednesday for a joint session to count the electoral college’s votes, the last formal step before Mr. Biden is sworn in.

The National Guard was deployed to Washington at the request of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. Firearms will not be allowed in the city, Metro Police Chief Robert Contee said on Monday.

The original charge against Tarrio, who came to Washington from Miami, stems from an incident on December 12 at the Asbury United Methodist Church, which is on the District of Columbia’s Register of Historic Places and is the oldest black church to remain on its original site. The church said its Black Lives Matter flag was torn and burned during pro-Trump rallies.

Tarrio told the Washington Post days after the incident that he participated in the burning of the flag, but insisted he was not involved in a hate crime. He said he would surrender to authorities, plead guilty to destroying property, and pay the cost of the banner to the church.

“So let me simplify it. I did it,” he said on December 18.

Asbury United Methodist Church replaced the stolen banner on Dec. 18, then held a prayer service outside the church, according to the Washington Post.

Tarrio said the Proud Boys were reacting to the stabbing of four members of his group outside a nearby bar. The African Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal Church, another historically black house of worship, also said a Black Lives Matter sign was also taken. This church filed a complaint Monday against Tarrio for the destruction of the banner.