The FBI has recently made a significant breakthrough in their investigation into the January 6th Capitol attack. This week, they arrested an infamous rioter known as the “Blue Plaid Sprayer,” whose image has been widely featured in news articles and even used in a campaign ad for President Joe Biden. The arrest took place in Oregon, where the suspect was charged with assaulting law enforcement officers by using a chemical spray during the attack.
According to the FBI, the man in question is Andy Steven Oliva-Lopez. Online sleuths, also known as “sedition hunters,” had identified him over a year ago and promptly reported their findings to the authorities. However, until now, he had remained at large, like many other identified but unarrested suspects from that fateful day. With the statute of limitations quickly approaching, time was running out to bring him to justice.
The identification of “Blue Plaid Sprayer” was no easy task. Online sleuths used facial recognition technology to link him to a pro-Trump rally called “American Lives Matter” that took place at the Oregon State Capitol in September 2020. The suspect’s association with a Twitter account under the name “Primal American” further solidified his ties to the events leading up to January 6th. The account frequently shared pro-Trump messages and even promoted a pseudo-documentary about the attack.
Since the Capitol siege, the suspect has been active on social media, sharing posts about his work as a general contractor in the Portland area and flaunting his vacations, including a ski trip to Aspen, Colorado. These posts infuriated the sedition hunters, who believed he should be held accountable for his actions rather than enjoying his freedom.
The arrest of Oliva-Lopez is a significant step forward in the ongoing investigation into the Capitol attack. It demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to tracking down and prosecuting those responsible for the violence that unfolded that day. With more than 1,200 rioters arrested and approximately 900 convictions so far, justice is slowly but surely being served.
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