Army Vet, 'Boogaloo' Member Charged in Capitol Riot After Uploading Pictures Online
A former U.S. Army veteran and "Boogaloo" member, Steven Thurlow, was arrested on Wednesday and charged in the January 6 Capitol riot after he allegedly posted pictures of himself inside the Capitol building online.
Thurlow was identified by the FBI after they received tips that he was at the Capitol riot on January 6 and received screenshots he allegedly posted on his social media pages.
The charging documents state that the FBI received one image of Thurlow that "shows a man in camouflage tactical gear with a 'Boogaloo' patch on the chest, as well as a 'Torii' patch on the body armor."
"'Boogaloo' is a term referencing a violent uprising or impending civil war. The term is sometimes used by militia extremists and racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists," the charging documents read. "The term has particularly resonated with militia extremists, who have adopted it to reference an impending politically-motivated civil war or uprising against the government following perceived incursions on Constitutional rights—including the Second Amendment—or other perceived government overreach."
Military records indicate that Thurlow served in the United States Army from July 1988 until October 1991, according to the charging documents.
Several pictures provided by witnesses show Thurlow inside the Capitol on January 6. One of the pictures provided to investigators reportedly came from Thurlow's Facebook page. The charging documents state that it "appears to be taken from inside the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, 2021, and shows other rioters standing in the hallway."
Thurlow wrote in the caption on another Facebook photo obtained by investigators that a "riot disbursement" device was shot at him. The pictures were sent to the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) and a special agent with the department verified that they were taken from inside the Capitol on January 6, per the charging documents.
Investigators also reviewed CCTV footage from the Capitol on January 6 and concluded that Thurlow can be seen on the footage in the same area where the pictures were taken. Thurlow is seen wearing the same clothing on the CCTV footage and in the pictures obtained by investigators.
A third witness also confirmed that Thurlow was the individual seen in pictures obtained by investigators.
Thurlow was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
