Taylor Taranto, 37, was spotted by police a few blocks from the former president’s home and fled, but was pursued by Secret Service agents. Taranto has an open warrant for his arrest on charges related to the insurrection, said two police officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on an open case.
Taranto had also threatened a public figure on social media, they added. He was found with weapons and had materials to make an explosive device, although none had been made, one of the officials said.
No one was injured. It is unknown if the Obamas were at his home when the arrest was made.
The Metropolitan Police arrested Taranto on the charge of being a fugitive from justice. A team of bomb squads searched Taranto’s van and said there was no danger to the public.
It is not known exactly what Taranto is charged with in connection with the storming of the Capitol, in which supporters of then-President Donald Trump broke windows and beat and injured 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 assault on the Capitol. More than 600 of them have pleaded guilty and 100 have been found guilty in trials decided by judges or juries. More than 550 defendants in the riots have been sentenced and more than half were sentenced to between six days and 18 years in prison.
