Authorities are currently on the lookout for Bryan Betancur, a pardoned participant in the January 6 riots, who has been accused of engaging in inappropriate behavior on Metro trains. This self-proclaimed white supremacist from Maryland is alleged to have livestreamed himself touching the hair of several unsuspecting women.
Metro Transit Police have issued an active arrest warrant for the 28-year-old Betancur, linked to an assault and battery incident that occurred on a Silver Line train at the Clarendon Metro Station in Virginia on a recent Sunday evening. The police have emphasized their commitment to addressing the situation, stating, “We are aware of videos circulating on social media depicting inappropriate behavior toward Metro customers. We’re taking reports seriously and actively investigating every lead.”
Reports from social media and local news outlet The MoCoShow suggest that Betancur used livestreaming to document his actions, touching the hair of multiple women on Metro trains without their consent or awareness. This troubling behavior has sparked a flurry of responses and concern from the public.
Betancur’s notoriety stems from his involvement in the January 2021 riots at the US Capitol. At that time, he was already on parole for fourth-degree burglary charges, when his ankle monitor revealed his presence at the riot scene, leading to his arrest. His background is further tainted by his own admissions to law enforcement that he is affiliated with several white supremacy groups, and a federal affidavit reveals he has expressed violent ideations, including comments about school shootings and researching mass shootings.
Betancur, a self-proclaimed white supremacist from Silver Springs, Maryland, was on parole for fourth-degree burglary charges when he was arrested in connection with the January 2021 riots at the US Capitol after his ankle monitor placed him at the scene of the unrest, officials previously said.
He “made statements to law enforcement officers that he is a member of several white supremacy organizations” and “has voiced homicidal ideations, made comments about conducting a school shooting, and has researched mass shootings,” according to a federal affidavit.
The rioter also has expressed his desire to be a “lone wolf killer,” the document said.
Betancur — who was fitted with an ankle bracelet and monitored by authorities — wore a Proud Boys T-shirt and flashed the “OK” hand signal in a social media post near the US Capitol Building on Jan. 6 while holding the corner of a Confederate battle flag, according to the affidavit.
The Proud Boys is a far-right, neo-fascist organization primarily based in the US that describes itself as a “pro-Western fraternal organization for men who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world; aka Western Chauvinists,” federal authorities said.
Betancur had received permission while on probation to travel to DC to sell Bibles with the evangelical Gideon International organization when he joined the mob of thousands at the US Capitol.
The convict served four months behind bars for his participation in the Jan. 6 riots — but was one of roughly 1,500 defendants charged for their participation in the US Capitol riots who were pardoned by President Trump early in his second presidential term.
He was also charged in 2024 with multiple violations of an anti-stalking order barring him from contact with Brianne Champman, a Washington, DC activist and a counter-protester at hearings in cases released to the Jan. 6 riots known as “Anarchy Princhess,” WSUA9 reported.
Betancur pleaded guiltyin DC Superior Court to two months of contempt of an anti-stalking order and was sentenced to six months in jail on each count, with all but 30 days suspended, the outlet reported.
He was ordered to serve two years of supervised probation and spend the first six months after his release from prison on GPS monitoring, the outlet said.
An account identified as belonging to Betancur — with the bio “Citizen Journalist, Legal Observer. Vindicated Patriot, Political Activist, Prolife, Antivax J6ER Catholic” — appeared to have privated all their content as of Monday evening.
Metro Transit Police is urging those with information about Betancur to call 202-962-2121 or text MYMTPD (696873).
