A law enforcement official told CNN that the DC Metropolitan Police Department accused Tarrio, of Miami, of property destruction related to a banner that was burned on December 12 outside a church in northwest DC.
DC Metropolitan Police Department public information officer Sean Hickman told CNN separately that Tarrio was charged with possession of firearm magazines.
“He was charged with Property Destruction related to a crime that took place on Saturday, December 12, 2020, at block 900 on 11th Street, Northwest,” said Hickman. “At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of two high-capacity firearm carriers. He was additionally charged with Possession of a High-Capacity Feeding Device.”
Tarrio did not return calls or messages from CNN on Monday. He took responsibility for the act last month, writing in a post on the social media site Parler that “against my attorney’s will, I am here today to admit that I am responsible for burning this sign.” In the same post, Tarrio also challenged the police to arrest him, writing: “Come and get me if you think I did it wrong. We will let the public decide.”
Tarrio also took responsibility during an interview with the “WarBoys” podcast last month, praising himself as “the person who went ahead and put the lighter in it and engulfed it in flames”.
“And I am very proud to have done that,” he said.
CNN also tried to contact Tarrio for comment in December after the incident.
Videos circulating on social networks show that fights and small fights happened sporadically, but the big meetings were mostly peaceful.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a statement at the time calling for unity.
“This weekend, we saw forces of hatred trying to use destruction and intimidation to separate us. We will not let that happen and we will continue together, strong and United for Love,” said Bowser.
A far-right collective, members of the Proud Boys were seen – many dressed in black and yellow polo shirts – at various Trump 2020 campaign rallies.