Former Proud Boys Leader Enrique Tarrio Arrested near Capitol in DC

Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, was arrested Friday afternoon in Washington, DC on a charge of simple assault. The arrest came after an incident near the U.S. Capitol in which Tarrio threw a counter-protester’s phone. Police standing nearby arrested Tarrio within seconds of the incident, and he was transported to a police station, processed and released shortly thereafter.

The incident transpired shortly after a press conference held by Tarrio and others whose sentences were recently commuted by President Trump. The group had gathered near the U.S. Capitol Building to announce a forthcoming lawsuit against the Department of Justice, and were met by a couple counter-protesters as they spoke on Capitol grounds. Tarrio was joined at the press conference by several other speakers, including Joe Biggs, Dominic Pezzola, Ethan Nordean, Zach Rehl, and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes.

After the press conference, the group walked away from the Capitol building, with at least one counter-protester following. The group then dispersed, with Tarrio heading off on his own, flanked by a few reporters and one counter-protester. The counter-protester approached in close proximity after a reporter asked Tarrio for contact information. A brief altercation occurred, with Tarrio throwing the counter-protester’s phone. U.S. Capitol Police, who had been in close proximity both during and after the press conference, then arrested Tarrio.

A USCP spokesperson later stated the following:

“Around 2:30 p.m., our officers witnessed a woman (a counter protester) put a cell phone close to a man’s face, while they were both walking near Delaware Avenue, NE, and D Street. Then the officers witnessed the man strike the woman’s phone and arm. The woman told our officers that she wanted to be a complainant, and the man was arrested for the simple assault. The man has been identified as Enrique Tarrio.

The suspect had just held a news conference on Capitol Grounds without incident. When the Simple Assault was witnessed, the news conference had just finished and the group was in the process of leaving Capitol Grounds.”

Watch video from the arrest here: