Daniel Alan Baker: Ex-soldier who wanted to 'violently confront' pro-Trump protesters at Florida Capitol arrested
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA: Daniel Alan Baker, a former US Army soldier from Tallahassee was arrested on Friday, January 15, night after he reportedly issued "a call to arms" for a violent attack on protesters at Florida's Capitol. The 33-year-old, according to the Tallahassee Democrat, was arrested on a federal charge that involved "transmission of a threat to kidnap or injure" as announced in a news release by the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
Baker is being held at the Federal Detention Center in Tallahassee and had appeared in front of US Magistrate Judge Charles A Stampelos on Friday, January 15. It was argued by Lazaro Fields, Assistant US Attorney, that Baker was a "flight risk and a danger to the community" should he be let out.
While a detention hearing was set for January 21, the article revealed that the only time Baker spoke during this meeting was when he said. "I’d like to get out of here after Inauguration Day. I would prefer whatever is safest for me.” The former soldier was arrested with the help of both the Tallahassee Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and could see the inside of a federal prison for up to five years along with a $250,000 fine should he get convicted.
Why was Baker arrested?
Prosecutors reportedly said that the former soldier had plans to "violently confront" protesters at the Capitol. “Baker issued a call to arms for like-minded individuals to violently confront protesters gathered at the Florida Capitol this Sunday, January 17. He specifically called for others to join him in encircling any protesters and confining them at the Capitol complex using firearms," said federal prosecutors.
The article further revealed that Baker had taken to his YouTube channel to post a video of him printing out fliers that read "CALL TO ARMS JANUARY 20TH!" Reportedly, the fliers ask Florida residents to "RISE UP!" — "Here in Florida, we must circle the terrorists who attack the Capitol! Let them take the capital and fight with the cops. SURROUND THEM AND TRAP THEM INSIDE," read the flier.
It added, "We will protect Capitol RESIDENTS and CIVILIANS from armed racist mobs with EVERY CALIBER AVAILABLE. This is an armed coup and can only be stopped by an armed community. If you’re afraid to die fighting the enemy, stay in bed and live.”
Who is Daniel Alan Baker?
Another report by the Tallahassee Democrat reveals who exactly this former soldier was. The 33-year-old Tallahassee resident has been reportedly traveling around the country during the protests. The article revealed that according to the federal complaint filed against him, Baker had also recently applied to the Tallahassee Community College's Emergency Medical Technician program.
The former airborne infantryman had financial problems and according to the FBI had tried to fund his EMT courses through crowdsourcing money and making "pleas for help through social media." The article revealed he posted, "I swear on god yall if I can't raise this money I will start robbing the rich and pedophiles too. This is my last fundraiser before I commit to organized crime."
It has been reported that he has been to Seattle and Nashville according to the complaint and has been traveling to take part in protests against "police brutality and the destruction of America."
As for his army days, after he enlisted in 2016, he was removed with an "other-than-honorable discharge" as a result of being AWOL before his unit had deployed to Iraq, according to an FBI complaint. Court documents have also reportedly revealed that Baker was "homeless and unemployed" from 2008 to 2017 while he sometimes worked as a security guard. Baker has "reported ties" to a foreign terrorist group.
The complaint also revealed that back in 2017, Baker joined People's Protection Units (YPG) which is an affiliate of Kurdistan's Working Party, a designated foreign Terrorist Organization. The YPG is reportedly a group that is fighting ISIS and the Turkish government in Syria. The article also took a deep dive into his social media - it revealed that in Baker's video on YouTube he's seen shooting an AK-47 assault rifle along with making threats that he will go back to Syria and shoot people.
His channel also showcases footage of protests along with training in military and martial arts and even overseas combat. The Tallahassee Democrat said that Baker wrote this on YouTube.
"I am a certified yoga teacher, combat lifesaver, and armed security guard. I am also a jiujitsu champion and a traveling fighter. I treat emergency trauma, especially gunshot and shrapnel wounds. I fought against ISIS in Baghuz, Dier Ez Zor in Syria with the YPG, and I share their political views. I protest in America." Federal prosecutors have also revealed that over recent days, Baker's posts on social media "escalated significantly".