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Who is Wesley Allen Beeler? Virginia man 'carrying 500 ammo rounds' insists fake Biden inauguration ID was real

Police noticed his Ford pick-up which had window stickers that read 'Assault Life' and 'If they come for your guns, give 'em your bullets first'

US Capitol police in Washington, DC, on Friday, January 15, arrested a Virginia man who allegedly tried to pass through a security checkpoint with an "unauthorized" non-governmental credential, unregistered handguns and more than 500 rounds of ammunition, according to the officials.

Wesley Allen Beeler, 31, of Front Royal, Virginia, was arrested around 6.30 pm on Jan 15 after police found two unregistered Glock 9mm handguns, 509 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 21 12-gauge shotgun cartridges and one 17-round Glock 17 magazine, all in his truck. At the time of the arrest 1 mile northeast of the Capitol building, Beeler was detained for illegally carrying a concealed weapon outside of a home or business, possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of unregistered ammunition, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of a large range of ammunition feeding device.

At the security checkpoint, police noticed his Ford pick-up which had window stickers that read "Assault Life" and "If they come for your guns, give 'em your bullets first," according to an affidavit filed in DC Superior Court. He handed officers an "unauthorized" inauguration credential for the upcoming swearing-in of President-elect Joe Biden. He was said to be cooperative with the officials throughout the investigation.

The local Metropolitan Police Department transferred all inquiries on the matter to the US Capitol Police (USCP). The USCP sanctioned Beeler's arrest and that he "presented a non-government issued credential" at a security checkpoint for Biden's inauguration. 

At a hearing that happened on Saturday, January 16, afternoon, the US attorney’s office for the District asked a judge to declare a stay-away order. Beeler was released on personal recognizance. The prosecutors did nothing to charge him, even after the judge asked thrice whether the government wished him to be held ahead of trial, reports the Washington Post.

“It was an honest mistake,” Beeler said after being released. He also stated that he has spent the past week working as hired security in downtown Washington ahead of the inauguration and he forgot that his firearm was in his truck while he left his home in Virginia, where he said he has a license to carry. He also said that he realized it was there halfway through his trip but that he was running late, so he didn’t turn around. “I pulled up to a checkpoint after getting lost in DC because I’m a country boy,” he said. “I showed them the inauguration badge that was given to me.” He denied that he had the more than 500 rounds of ammunition as listed in his arrest report.

His brother Clint Beeler told DailyMail.com there was "a major misunderstanding." He added, "I believe someone forgot to put him in the system to be authorized in. He gave them the badge that was given to him. How can it be 'false credentials', when it was what they gave him?'" USCP and other authorities are on high alert after the January 6, 2021 protest that left five people dead, including a police officer, as a mob stormed the grounds of the Capitol hoping to halt the election certification process.

On Jan 15, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced it was closing the state capitol and nearby grounds from Saturday (Jan 16) through Wednesday (Jan 20). "The Texas Department of Public Safety is aware of armed protests planned at the Texas State Capitol this week and violent extremists who may seek to exploit constitutionally protected events to conduct criminal acts," public safety director Steven McCraw said in a statement. "As a result, DPS has deployed additional personnel and resources to the Capitol."

Beeler's arrest generated quite a lot of noise on social media. One Internet user questioned, "So Wesley Allen Beeler gets arrested for trying to get passed a checkpoint in DC carrying a gun and 500 rounds of ammo, goes to court and gets released on his own recognizance???????: Sharing a picture another one said, "Since white media doesn't want to release the picture of one of their own. This is Wesley Allen Beeler." (Caution: officials have not released any pictures)

One Twitter user posted, "The treason, domestic terrorism, insurrection, and sedition won’t end with this inauguration. Wesley Allen Beeler, of Virginia Arrested In D.C. With 500 Rounds Of Ammo And Fake Inaugural Credentials." Another wrote, "Black kids are shot for 'posing a threat' bc they're holding iced tea or a cell phone, but Wesley Allen Beeler w/500 rounds of ammo, an unregistered gun, and FAKE INAUGURATION PAPERWORK trying to get into the Capitol is released and 'deemed not a threat'??"