Baker was suspected by private security hired by residents and businesses in the zone as well as zone activists of being one of the shooters during the incident.
Daniel Alan Baker, a former US Army airborne infantryman has been arrested and faces federal charges involving transmitting a threat to kidnap or injure after he allegedly issued a call to attack protesters at Florida’s state Capitol during a protest, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
Prosecutors said Baker, 33, of Tallahassee, Florida described himself as a "hard-core leftist" who was upset about the January 6. riot at the US Capitol. Prosecutors said that Baker, planned to violently confront protesters at the Florida state Capitol on January 17. The arrest triggered Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis calling up the National Guard to protect the Capitol, even though there was no "specific threat," nor were formal protests organized for the day, though there had been "chatter" regarding potential protests.
Baker is accused of creating a plan to trap protesters and police inside the Capitol building and then "drive them out of Tallahassee with every caliber available." According to the complaint, authorities believe Baker was armed and that he was "actively attempting to purchase additional firearms" before the event.
According to the complaint, Baker served in the Army in 2006 and 2007 in before being dishonorably discharged. He went AWOL (Absent With Out Leave), before his unit deployed to Iraq.
The complaint expanded on Baker’s personal history and said from 2008 to 2017, Baker was unemployed, homeless and in the Tallahassee area, occasionally working as a security guard.
In 2017, Baker joined a militia group in Syria. The group, the People's Protection Units (YPG), is a sub-affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the US State Department. The group is a combination of revolutionary socialism, Marxism and Leninism and is attempting to create a communist Kurdistan.
The FBI was warned in October that Baker threatened violence and was trying to "recruit and train" "like-minded individuals" via social media to join him in his "anti-government or anti-authority violent extremism ideology." The complaint cited multiple threats against people that Baker deemed to be "white supremacists," "fascists," or even just had opposing political views. According to the complaint, Baker also advocated for killing members of the US military.
"Extremists intent on violence, from either end of the political and social spectrums, must be stopped...and they will be stopped." See @NDFLnews video statement regarding today's arrest of extremist Daniel Baker in Tallahassee, FL. @FBIJacksonville @fdlepio @TallyPD @LeonSheriff pic.twitter.com/1V1xx9RbiS
— U.S. Attorney NDFL (@NDFLnews)
US Attorney Larry Keefe said in a video release that "Baker issued a call to arms for like-minded individuals to violently confront protesters gathered at the Florida Capitol this Sunday. He specifically called for others to join him in encircling any protesters and confining them at the Capitol complex using firearms."
The "call to arms" was part of a video Baker posted on his YouTube channel showing him printing out fliers which read, "CALL TO ARMS JANUARY 20TH!" It also said to fight back against "armed racist mobs."
The flier also said, "We need ALL FLORIDA RESIDENTS to RISE UP! Here in Florida we must circle the terrorists who attack the Capitol! Let them take the capitol and fight with the cops. SURROUND THEM AND TRAP THEM INSIDE."
"JUST SHOW UP," he wrote. "WE ARE CHAOTIC MAELSTROM OF WILLING HANDS." During the press release Keefe said, "Extremists intent on violence from either end of the political and social spectrums must be stopped, and they will be stopped."
Baker’s YouTube page, contains over 80 videos including ones with titles such as "why we kill all nazi scum on their friends" and "help George Soros id these terrorists." The videos included footage of multiple protests, military training and what appears to be Baker's time overseas in combat. In his YouTube profile Baker claimed to have turned himself around and became a Jiu-jitsu champion and yoga instructor.
As noted in the complaint Baker also travelled to Seattle’s "autonomous zone" this summer to be part of the "revolution." Baker was interviewed at the time for an article about the occupation. The article said Baker "seemed disappointed in the lack of violent opposition here."
REWARD: ATF is offering up to $5,000 for the identities of five individuals who were present June 24 when the fire-bombing of a government building occurred. Recognize these individuals? Read the full release for details: https://t.co/guz2QCvY9h pic.twitter.com/Yi0dL7jXl7
— ATF St. Paul (@ATFStPaul)
Baker said in the article, "I told them, if they really wanted a revolution, we needed to get AK's and start making bombs. No one listened to me." While in the zone, Baker posted pictures of himself as a sniper and even said "If they are going to shoot and lynch us for protesting unarmed and peacefully, then we might as well die fighting."
Zone security was frequently armed at the barricades surrounding the area. The John Brown Gun Club were regular participants in the occupation. Raz Simone, the "Warlord" of the zone was caught on video giving out AR-15's out of the back of a Tesla to anyone who offered to stand a post. Baker's original claims of an unarmed protest go against the known facts about the zone and his own words about a zone "armory."
https://www.youtube.com/embed/PlLNVhIh_08?feature=oembed
On July 29, while Baker was in the occupied zone, 2 black teens in an SUV were shot and one was killed in the final days of the occupation. Baker claimed to have been providing security for the zone and served as a "medic." He also claimed to have administered aid to the gunshot victims.
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From a now deleted Twitter account, Baker claimed that the teens in the vehicle shot at him and other zone security members, but then adds that he tried to de-escalate the situation which he said was started by the occupants of the vehicles throwing fireworks. Gun shots from various types of weapons can be heard on multiple videos of the incident. Witnesses and multiple streamers including Converge Media said that zone security fired at the vehicle. Converge Media referenced zone security being "ex-military." Some of the zone guards were caught on video audio in the aftermath of the shooting mocking the incident and joking about running out of bullets and one can ever be heard saying, "What, you're nauseous? I'm the one who killed him."
Baker and other members of zone security were accused on social media of shooting at the vehicle. Baker claimed on Twitter that he confiscated weapons found in the SUV after it crashed. Baker then admitted taking the weapons and putting them in the zone "armory." Full details of the incident are not known because police were not allowed access to the until after the crime scene had been tampered with.
However, The Post Millennial has learned that Baker was suspected by private security hired by residents and businesses in the zone as well as zone activists of being one of the shooters during the incident. Information on Baker was turned over to the Seattle Police and the FBI at the time and it was recommended that they investigate his involvement.
Yet, following the shooting, Baker fled the area and began moving around the country from city to city and according to the FBI joined other protests around the country. The US Attorney said, "Baker, who actively participated in multiple protests throughout the United States last summer, has used social media as a way to promote, encourage and educate his followers on how to incapacitate and debilitate law enforcement officers." Before the November Presidential election Baker said on social media, "God I hope the right tries a coup Nov 3rd cuz I'm so f------ down to slay enemies again."
Baker is now being held in the Federal Detention Center in Tallahassee and is charged with transmission of a threat to kidnap or injure and if convicted could serve up to five years in federal prison and a be required to pay a $250,000 fine.