Beltway Area Indymedia

A man arrested for assaulting immigrants' rights demonstrators is said to be due in DC Superior Court, located at 500 Indiana Avenue NW (Judiciary Square Metro) on Friday. The man, identified as Tyler J. Froatz, Jr., was identified in a Washington Times article last year as a member of the Herndon Minutemen, the Herndon chapter of the notorious, racist group, the Minuteman Project.

The man is said to have assaulted more than one person prior to Tuesday's rally and march for immigrants' rights in Malcolm X Park, while also verbally insulting those in attendance. Froatz then fled after police were called. Upon returning, the man was arrested, and weapons were found both on his person, and in his vehicle. They were said to include knives, a stun gun, and a flare gun. Then, on Wednesday, May 2, police executed a search warrant of Froatz's NW residence, at 5320 8th St. NW. Inside, more than a dozen rifles, and numerous other weapons were found. All of the weapons were seized.

Despite their efforts to portray themselves as a mainstream group, it is clear that at least some members of the Herndon Minutemen are anything but mainstream.

Now, this anti-immigrant vigilante is due to appear in court on Friday. Will Mr. Froatz be held in custody, as is the norm for persons arrested in DC with an arsenal of weapons? Should this person be allowed to roam freely in our city, or anywhere?