Global Courant
WASHINGTON (AP) — A man wanted for crimes related to the January 6, 2021, uprising at the U.S. Capitol was arrested Thursday in the Washington neighborhood where former President Barack Obama lives, law enforcement officials said.
Taylor Taranto, 37, was spotted by law enforcement officers a few blocks from the former president’s home, and he fled although being pursued by US Secret Service agents. He has an outstanding warrant for charges related to the uprising, two law enforcement officials said. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing case and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. They said Taranto also made threats on social media against a public figure.
The Metropolitan Police arrested him on charges of being a fugitive from justice. The explosives team searched Taranto’s vehicle. It was not clear what exactly Taranto might have done during the riot, which saw supporters of then-President Donald Trump smash windows and beat and bleed police officers in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the U.S. Capitol uprising. More than 600 of them have confessed, while about 100 others have been convicted after trials decided by judges or juries. More than 550 riot defendants have been convicted, and more than half received prison terms ranging from six days to 18 years.
