Kodalane, Idaho — Police said dozens of members of the white supremacist group were arrested in Idaho on Saturday before acting on a plan to riot at a local pride event.
Police chief Lee White said at a news conference that after receiving advice from officials, police detained and charged 31 people from a far-right group known as Patriot Front.
He said they were charged with conspiracy to riot and misdemeanor.
Bob Noris, a sheriff in Kootenai County, said one reported seeing a group of people jumping into U Hall Bang near the intersection of Northwest Boulevard in Koderane and Interstate 90.
“And they were all dressed like small troops,” Sheriff Norris said. “We had troops in their area, and we were able to intercept them fairly quickly.”
A few miles away, the North Ida Hope Alliance hosted the annual event “Pride in the Park” at Coda Lane City Park.
Defamation Prevention LeagueTracking militant groups and hate crimes, Patriot Front is a member of another white supremacist group, Vanguard America, following the Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. Described as a Texas-based white supremacist group formed at the time of the dissolution.
Police said the arrested members had come to Idaho from several states, including Texas, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota, Illinois, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, and Virginia. At least one of the members lived in Idaho, officials said.
According to ADL, Patriot Front frequently participates in “flash demonstrations” designed to create viral video content, with members usually wearing masks and “khaki trousers and blue or white polo shirts.” , Smoke grenades may also be used.
White said the arrested people wore khaki trousers and arm patches and hats with the Patriot front logo. Arrest videos on social media show a man sitting on his knees with his hands tied behind him. Many men are masked and wear blue shirts.
“If you want to go online, check out the Patriot Front. This is exactly what these personal outfits are, “says White Chief.
Many of the men had shields and shin guards, and police recovered a smoke grenade, they said. They did not mention other weapons.
“I’m undoubtedly, they were coming downtown because of the riots,” said Chief White.
White denied online rumors that the arrest was due to the work of the informant.
“This all came from worried citizens,” he said.
The group’s apparent leader had a seven-page document outlining the operational plan in detail, the chief said.
After extracting the digital image of the document, White Chief read a brief excerpt in The New York Times detailing how to use smoke. “Once the dynamics of the right amount of conflict are established, the column is released and heads for the shaman.”
Sherman Avenue passes through the heart of downtown Corder Lane.
According to Kootenai County prison records, Patriot Front founder Thomas Rousseau was one of those booked on suspicion of criminal conspiracy.
In the weeks leading up to the pride event, Sheriff Norris said “a lot of chatter was happening” from both far-right and far-left sources about the potential conflict at the rally.
Some were from local groups, including the Panhandle Patriots, a far-right motorcycle club in northern Idaho. However, some of those groups publicly changed their plans as concerns about violent conflict increased. Panhandle Patriots has changed its brand name to the planned “Ganda Lean” commemorative event as “Northern Aidaho Prayer Day”.
White said he had no information at this time suggesting that the alt-right or other local members of the far-right group were involved in the Patriot Front’s plans.
The White Chief said there were members of the Antifa Group who attended the pride event. But Pride in the Park attendees said, “At least the event organizers did, but I felt it was relatively safe,” White Chief said.
“There were people walking around the event with long guns, pistols, bear sprays, etc.,” he said. But he added, “it’s legal in Idaho.”
Sheriff Norris characterized the arrest as a victory for the community and Kootenai County law enforcement agencies. “Without police action and personal calls,” he said, “we would be talking about another situation.”