Man Accused Of Fondling Strangers' Hair Arrested 2nd Time While Leaving Court

ARLINGTON, VA — A Maryland man convicted of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and later pardoned, was arrested for assault on Monday as he was leaving an Arlington County courthouse, according to reports.

Bryan Betancur, 28, of Silver Spring had just been arraigned in Arlington General District Court on an assault and battery charge in connection to an incident that occurred earlier this month on a Silver Line Metro train, according to police. He had been accused of touching the hair of female passengers.

Betancur was with his mother on Monday, when he was arrested by Metro Transit Police in the courthouse parking area, according to News4 reporter Drew Wilder. He was charged with simple assault in Washington, D.C. as part of an ongoing investigation into a series of incidents on Metro that were recorded and posted online.

Betancur was originally arrested on March 5 in connection to an incident that occurred around 10 p.m. on March 1 on a Metro train servicing the Clarendon Station in Arlington, according to Metro Transit Police.

"We are aware of videos circulating on social media depicting inappropriate behavior toward Metro customers," transit police posted on social media. "We’re taking reports seriously and actively investigating every lead."

The videos purportedly showed Betancur touch the hair of female passengers while riding Metro, according to WTOP.

Betancur has a preliminary hearing scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on May 8 in Arlington General District Court, when he will face a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery and a felony charge of being a fugitive with a felony arrest.

"Betancur is a self-professed white supremacist who has made statements to law enforcement officers that he is a member of several white supremacy organizations," according to an affidavit in support of request for an arrest warrant filed in U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia in October 2021.

"Betancur has voiced homicidal ideations, made comments about conducting a school shooting, and has researched mass shootings," the affidavit says. "Betancur voiced support for James Fields, the individual convicted of killing during protests in Charlottesville, Virginia. Betancur has stated he wanted to run people over with a vehicle and kill people in a church. Betancur subsequently stated that he had changed his mind about hurting people."

The FBI arrested Betancur and charged him with entering restricted buildings or grounds; unlawful activities on Capitol grounds; disorderly conduct; and unlawful activities on Capitol grounds, parades, assemblages and display in connection to his activities during the Jan. 1, 2021 riot, court records say.

After pleading guilty to a charge of entering and remaining in restricted buildings or grounds, Betancur was sentenced to four months in federal prison, according to court documents. He was also ordered to serve 12 months of supervised release at the completion of his prison term.

WTOP reported that Betancur was among the many Jan. 6 rioters pardoned by President Donald Trump when he took office in January 2025.

Anyone with information about this case or who may have come in contact with Betancur while traveling on Metro is asked to contact transit police by calling 202-962-2121 or texting MYMTPD (696873).

Also See ...

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