Crime & Safety
Deerfield Beach Man Arrested For Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol Riot: Report
Broward County man Samuel Camargo was part of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and returned to Washington, DC for the inauguration, reports said.
DEERFIELD BEACH, FL — A South Florida man wanted by authorities for participating in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol building breach and riot, was arrested after returning to Washington, DC for the inauguration, CNN reported.
Samuel Camargo, 26, of Deerfield Beach was arrested Wednesday in the Eastern District of Virginia. He faces numerous charges, including civil disorder; knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; knowingly engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in any restricted building or grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, according to the Department of Justice.
Camargo shared photos and videos of himself participating in the Capitol rally and riot to Instagram and Facebook, according to DOJ documents from the case. He was identified by a former classmate. In one video, he said that he “got some memorabilia, did it myself.”
Find out what's happening in Miamifor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Another video clip shows what the DOJ believes to be “Camargo at one of the doorways to the U.S. Capitol Building, using his mobile phone to video tape his struggle with the U.S. Capitol Police over opening a door to the U.S. Capitol Building.”
Camargo posted an apology to social media after the riot, according to DOJ documents.
Find out what's happening in Miamifor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A DOJ screenshot of the post shows that he wrote, “To all my friends, family and people of the United States of America, I apologize for my actions today at the Capitol in D.C. I was involved in the events that transpired earlier today. I will be getting off all social media for the foreseeable future and will cooperate with all investigations that may arise from my involvement. I’m sorry to all the people I’ve disappointed as this is not who I am nor what I stand for.”
When the FBI contacted Camargo Jan. 7, he admitted to being in Washington, DC the day of the riot, and said he had returned to his Broward County home. He then “became uncooperative, questioning (the agent’s) loyalty to the constitution and advised the interviewing agent he had no information to provide,” according to DOJ documents.
Following that interview, though, Camargo posted to social media, “Just finished speaking to an FBI agent, I believe I’ve been cleared.”
When authorities went to Camargo’s home to arrest him Tuesday, he wasn’t there. He was found and arrested the next day in Washington, DC, CNN reported. He told investigators that he knew he was wanted by the DOJ in connection with the Capitol riot but decided to attend the inauguration.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.