The leader of the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, was arrested in Washington, D.C. Monday, a day before thousands of pro-Trump and far-right demonstrators are expected.
36-year-old Enrique Tarrio was taken into police custody and charged with destruction of property, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Police Department.
The charge stems from Tarrio’s actions during last month’s violent pro-Trump demonstration in D.C..
Tarrio admitted to removing and burning a Black Lives Matter banner from a historically Black church, an action the Proud Boys are now being sued over.
Tarrio is additionally being charged with possession of a high capacity feeding device. Officers found two high-capacity firearm magazines with him upon arrest.
The FBI says the Proud Boys have “ties to white nationalism” and the organization has previously been associated with violence.
Three conservative groups have officially submitted permit applications to the National Park Service for events on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The protests are timed to come as the newly sworn-in 117th Congress officially counts the Electoral College ballots on Wednesday.
Unnamed individuals posted information online advising how to secretly bring guns to the protests. Open possession of a firearm is also illegal throughout the city.
