Garret James Smith, 22, was arrested near a January 6 protest carrying a handmade bomb believed to be filled with nails
Police arrested a man as he fled a Capitol riot rally in Florida carrying a backpack containing a homemade pipe bomb, combat helmet, and handwritten action plan.
Garrett James Smith was jailed on his 22nd birthday, on January 6 2022, near a rally being held outside the Pinellas County Justice Center in protest of a local Capitol riot suspect's arrest.
He was chased down by deputies while sprinting away from the rally - ostensibly spooked by something - while wearing black clothing and a black face mask.
Among the contents of his backpack was a black helmet painted with red logos, similar to the headwear worn by protestors in Portland, police said.
His 'direct action' checklist laid out what he intended to carry, including: flammable rags, a gas mask, pepper spray, a multitool pocketknife, a 'survival whistle' and more.
They believe the bomb he was carrying was packed with nails.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said investigators probing Smith's background found no criminal history or social media presence, making him a 'sleeper' suspect - the most worrisome type of people.
'These are the most concerning individuals because there's no opportunity to intervene and thwart their criminal activity until they actually act,' he told reporters during a January 7 press conference.
Smith was jailed on his 22nd birthday January 6 near a rally being held outside the Pinellas County Justice Center in protest of a local Capitol riot participant's arrest
Police obtained a search warrant to search Smith's parents' Oldsmar home, where they found a second handmade pipe bomb, hand grenade-type explosives, nails used in the explosives and duct tape.
He lived with his parents and siblings, and previously spent a few months in Portland, police said.
Although his parents have cooperated with investigators, Smith has plead the fifth.
'Smith refused to give any information, he refused to talk to deputies, and we really have no idea as what his political leanings are , or whether he supported or opposed the protestors at the jail,' Gualtieri said.
'We also don't know exactly what his plan was or why Smith was running away from the protest area when he was apprehended by deputies and before he had an opportunity to detonate the explosive device.'
Smith's 'direct action' checklist laid out what he intended to carry, including: flammable rags, a gas mask, pepper spray, a multitool pocketknife, a 'survival whistle' and more
The sheriff said Smith's vehicle was parked several blocks away and that something likely 'spooked him' before he made it to the rally attended by about 80 people.
'He was running fast and it looked like he was fleeing from something,' Gualtieri said. 'He was
