A Washington, D.C., police officer served as a “double agent” ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, once informing the head of the Proud Boys of his imminent arrest for burning a Black Lives Matter flag, prosecutors reportedly said Monday during opening comments at his trial.
Former D.C. Metro Police Department Lt. Shane Lamond also maintained close contact with Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio in the run-up to the Jan. 6 disturbance that disrupted Joe Biden’s certification as the winner of the 2020 presidential election, prosecutors claim.
Lamond is accused with obstructing justice and three charges of making false statements to police regarding his talks with Tarrio, who is currently serving a 22-year jail sentence for organising the incident. Lamond is facing a bench trial on the counts in front of U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson.
According to The Washington Post, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rothstein told Berman that Lamond provided critical police information to a criminal suspect and then lied to investigators. “The evidence will establish that the defendant was a Proud Boys supporter. “The defendant became a double agent.
According to the March 2023 indictment, Lamond was the chief of MPD’s intelligence section, which monitored impending protests and gatherings in D.C., when he and Tarrio began conversing regularly using the encrypted messaging app Telegram.
After Joe Biden was announced the winner of the 2020 presidential election, Lamond allegedly texted Tarrio, saying, “Hey brother, awful news today. Are you guys planning anything?” Lamond also allegedly informed Tarrio that law enforcement had overheard Proud Boys discussing “mobilising” and “taking back the country.” Lamond also allegedly informed Tarrio that cops were considering closing down a Proud Boys hangout pub.
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Tarrio and the Proud Boys organised a rally on December 12, 2020. That night, Tarrio stole a Black Lives Matter flag, torched it, and subsequently brag about it on social media. Prosecutors stated that Tarrio and Lamond maintained “regular contact” following the event and discussed the inquiry.
Tarrio allegedly told fellow Proud Boys members about his “contact” with MPD. Police say that Lamond told Tarrio that they were trying to get an order to arrest him.
On January 4, 2021, Tarrio was flying from Florida to Washington, D.C., when Lamond reportedly modified his Telegram settings to erase communications 10 seconds after they were opened. Prosecutors think the now-disgraced cop informed the Proud Boys leader that a warrant had been issued for his arrest and that he would be taken into custody once in D.C. According to authorities, Lamond messaged Tarrio about the police probe both before and after the Jan. 6 rioting.
According to reports, Lamond advised Tarrio: “Of course I can’t say it officially, but personally I support you all and don’t want to see your group’s reputation dragged through the mud.”
In June 2021, the US Attorney’s Office launched an investigation into Lamond’s involvement with the Proud Boys. Prosecutors say Lamond lied about how he talked with Tarrio and denied giving him private information regarding the banner burning probe.
During Monday’s opening statements, Lamond’s attorney, Ana Jara, stated that characterising her client as a Proud Boys sympathiser is “simply not true” and that prosecutors “cherry-picked” messages between him and Tarrio. Lamond was simply working a source as a law enforcement officer, she explained.