An AR-15 owner QAnon acolyte caught with armor-piercing bullets drove from Wisconsin to Washington, DC on March 3, telling Capitol police officers that he “might do something crazy stupid tomorrow. “- the day on which followers of the discredited conspiracy theorist mistakenly believed that former president Donald Trump would take over the presidency again, according to a criminal complaint that went unresolved in federal court on March 19.
Ian Alan Olson, who undertook the 800-mile journey in a 2016 Subaru with QAnon slogans, told a soldier on duty outside the Capitol that he was going to test the National Guard tomorrow to see if they were loyal to the people are or the president, ”that he“ was willing to die to fulfill this mission ”, and that his“ actions would unite eight billion people ”, the complaint reads.
If he is eventually shot by the national guard, Olson claims, he will know the guard is loyal to President Joe Biden. If the national guard had not shot him, Olson claims he would then know that the guard was loyal to the citizens. He explained that he would ‘be taken over by the Spirit of Christ and lead the people to unity’, the complaint reads, and that ‘things can only be solved by the barrel of a gun’.
At the heart of QAnon’s conspiracy theory is the false belief that the world is run by a cabal of satan-worshiping pedophiles and child traffickers (allegedly made up of prominent democratic politicians, so-called ‘Deep State’ workers, journalists and Hollywood elite) and that President Trump is secretly working with Q and others to take down the cabal, ”said an affidavit attached to the charge and signed by FBI Special Agent Justin Mosiman of the Joint Terrorism Task Force of the Milwaukee Field Office. Many QAnon fans (known as ‘Anons’) call themselves ‘digital soldiers’ and believe that they are engaged in an epic battle between good and evil and darkness and light. Following the election on 3 November 2020, many prominent supporters of the QAnon urged the ‘Announcements’ to ‘trust the plan’, believing that the election of President Biden was an illusion and was part of a complicated plan by [an anonymous government official named] Q and others to make the crimes of the cabal known to the world, leading to President Trump securing a second term. ”
Dozens of people accused of taking part in the January 6 Capitol riots were outspoken supporters of QAnon. The alleged insurgent known as the “QAnon Shaman”, for one, left a threatening letter to Vice President Mike Pence in the Senate. Another QAnon fan wearing a “Q” T-shirt is seen physically threatening a police officer and hoping to be seen on video, so the QAnon movement is duly acknowledged that he participated in the siege .
In Olson’s case, police in the Capitol determined he was a danger to himself and others, and admitted him to a psychiatric hospital. Olson was diagnosed with a ‘brief psychotic disorder’ and discharged on March 5, according to the complaint.
Ten days later, Olson allegedly drove in his car to an Army reserve base in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, with Q-related phrases such as “Trust my plan,” and “WWG1WGA,” a QAnon motto that stands for “Where we go one, we all go,” spray paint over the doors, hood, roof, rear window and bumpers.
As he drove to the base, Olson got out of the vehicle, shouted, “This is for America,” and fired an AR-15 paintball gun at two uniformed reservists standing about 15 feet away, the documentation said. After allegedly firing ‘two to three’ rounds at the soldiers, Olson’s paintball gun apparently stuck. At that point, the reservists – one of whom is described as a law enforcement officer in civilian life – tackled Olson and detained him for police.
A search of Olson’s car was followed by a gas mask, knives, a police scanner, two-way radios, a taser and military-style ballistic vest plates. Officials also found a three-page manifesto, containing numerous mentions of Q and ‘my plan’, according to a motion filed by prosecutors.
Olson was booked into Waukesha County Jail on three charges of misconduct: terrorist threats; attempt at battery; and disorderly conduct. During the processing, Olson voluntarily said that he had recently returned from Washington, DC, where he did not want to convey the ‘message’ he had hoped for. According to the complaint, he then said that he intended to cause a mass accident when he got out, and mumbled under his breath: “People will remember my name.”
After Olson refused to speak to a mental health worker, he was released from custody on March 16. His wife gave permission for the search of their home, where police found an AR-15 rifle with a scope, suppressor and seven magazines. loaded with armor-piercing ammunition. Olson’s family told police there are a number of handguns that are ‘still outstanding’ and that they will hand them over to law enforcement.
On March 19, the FBI arrested Olson on two federal charges related to the Army Reserve base incident: assault on U.S. conscripts for service; and assault, resistance or obstruction of certain officers or employees – both offenses.
He does not yet have a lawyer in the court record, and could not be reached for comment.