Tuesday, January 5 top news briefs

It is Tuesday, January 5. Here are today’s top news briefs.

The leader of Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, was arrested in Washington D.C. last night after he flew in from Miami. He was charged with destruction of property for burning a Black Lives Matter flag that was ripped away from a historically Black church in December. During his arrest, police said they found two high capacity firearm magazines, which is illegal in D.C., so he was charged for that. Fox 5 DC reported that on Monday prior to the arrest, the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church filed a lawsuit against Tarrio and the Proud Boys and alleged they scaled the church’s fence and tore down a Black Lives Matter sign.

Now in separate but related news, there are many pro-Trump protesters expected in the D.C. area on Wednesday because it is the day that Congress is set to meet to certify the Electoral College. President Trump has been calling on his supporters to show up in D.C. and he said it would be “wild!” Fox 5 reported that D.C. police are posting notices that declare that guns are prohibited within 1,000 feet of the sign, effective from January 4 to January 7. There are multiple signs, so there will be a large zone that prohibits firearms. D.C. Mayor Bowser said she has called in about 350 troops from the National Guard. Downtown D.C. businesses are boarding up their windows.

The pharmacist in Wisconsin who was arrested for ruining almost 600 doses of the Moderna vaccine by taking it out of the refrigerator for two nights at a clinic, Steven Brandenburg, appeared in court yesterday and was released from jail on a $10,000 bond. He told police that he believed the vaccine was unsafe and would change people’s DNA. TMJ4 News said it is possible that the vaccines were not ruined and they will be tested. If the vaccines are still effective, his felony charges will be reduced to misdemeanors.

Here is a brief video from our sponsor.

[SORENSON AD]

In sad news from California, a 40-year-old father and his two children, ages 4 and 7, are presumed dead after they were swept away by rough waves in Sonoma County on Sunday. The mother was the only survivor. She explained that the family were visiting Blind Beach and were either at the water’s edge or partway in the water when a wave knocked them over. The two kids were pulled into the water and the father went after them to try and rescue them, but the father couldn’t overcome the swirling waters. The mother was knocked over but got out. Bystanders were able to pull out the father and performed CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. First responders are searching for the two children, but dangerous conditions made it difficult. A small jacket washed ashore and the two children are presumed dead. I can’t imagine what the mother must be going through to lose her entire family in an instant. It is a reminder to all of us to be very careful when visiting areas with very rough waves.

Prosecutors in Kenosha, Wisconsin announced today that they will not charge the officers who were involved in shooting and paralyzing Jacob Blake, who is Black. Blake was seen in a video trying to avoid officers by walking around a car and was shot seven times in the back. Attorney Ben Crump said they are immensely disappointed. The District Attorney Michael Graveley said the police officer, Rusten Sheskey, could successfully argue self-defense before a jury. He said he didn’t think he could prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Officials in Kenosha are preparing for a new round of protests. They have called in the National Guard and businesses have boarded up.

In separate but related news, Kyle Rittenhouse, who is charged with murdering two protesters in Kenosha on the third night after Blake’s shooting in August, pleaded not guilty to all charges. Those on Rittenhouse’ side said he acted in self defense. He was 17 at the time of the shooting and is now 18. He is out of jail after donors helped him to post a $2 million bail. The shooting was captured on video. Rittenhouse will be facing a trial. So, it’s two major cases going on right now at the same time in Kenosha.

That’s all the top news briefs for today. Check out our other videos. See you tomorrow and stay with the light!

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/proud-boys-leader-enrique-tarrio-arrested-in-dc-police-say

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/dc-says-no-guns-allowed-during-maga-election-protest

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-politics-electoral-college-muriel-bowser-1634bf71a27de48efef3cd1e6ed4abe4

https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/pharmacist-accused-of-spoiling-covid-19-vaccine-believed-it-would-change-peoples-dna-officials-say

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Father-dies-trying-to-rescue-2-kids-swept-off-15845090.php#photo-20456309

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/kenosha-jacob-blake-shooting/2021/01/04/22bb06f6-4ee9-11eb-bda4-615aaefd0555_story.html

https://www.wbez.org/stories/kyle-rittenhouse-expected-to-plead-not-guilty/efb2ce22-b47a-47de-83a0-daa2b2cac9e3

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2021/01/05/jacob-blake-shooting-kenosha-police-officer-rusten-sheskey-not-charged-michael-graveley/4135736001/