Militia Member Arrested for Allegedly Menacing With Gun During Riot

Sherrie Smith in undated mugshots. (Colorado Springs Police Department)

A member of the Redneck Revolt militia was arrested on Friday for allegedly pointing a rifle at an occupied vehicle during a riot in Colorado last month.

Sherrie Smith, 36, of Fountain, Colo., was taken into custody on multiple charges, including felony menacing, felony riot, and several misdemeanors.

The Colorado Springs Police Department said Smith and two others, 20-year-old Charles Johnson of Colorado Springs and 33-year-old Lloyd Porche of Denver, committed crimes during rioting in the city on Aug. 3.

The riot targeted a police sergeant’s residential home.

Police obtained arrest warrants for the trio as well as search warrants for the homes of Smith and Porche.

Local police received assistance from federal agents in the probe.

Smith told a local paper, the Colorado Springs Independent, several years ago that she became extremely active in politics after President Donald Trump entered office, leaving voicemails for her representatives, visiting Congressional offices, and doing other work.

But after she got locked out of a representative’s office, she was convinced her the tactics needed to change.

“That’s when I was like, we need to stop being polite. They work for us and if they don’t want to hear me, I'll make sure they do,” she said.

Smith and her husband came into contact with so-called anti-fascist activists, or Antifa members, many of whom have stated openly that they support using violence against opponents. They soon became familiar with Redneck Revolt, which provides security for left-wing protesters.

According to the group’s website, it is a “national network of anti-racist, anti-fascist community defense firearms projects from a broad spread of political & cultural backgrounds.” Many of the group’s branches choose to become John Brown Gun Clubs.

Attorney General William Barr named the club as one group in Antifa’s sprawling network, telling NBC this week that chants from a number of gatherings signal the groups believe they’re revolutionaries and engaged in a revolution.

People described as Antifa militants smash windows and set a fire to the Sacramento District Attorney's Office on Aug. 27, 2020. (Sacramento District Attorney's Office)

An individual who took part in a riot in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Aug. 3, 2020, whose identity is being sought by law enforcement. (Colorado Springs Police Department)

Smith told the paper that Redneck Revolt and Antifa shared tactics but claimed the former was committed to defensive action and an organizational structure.

“We’re not looking for confrontation like they are,” she said.

Smith told the same paper this week that she did attend the protest that devolved into a riot, claiming the fact she openly carried a firearm led to her being charged.

“It’s retaliation” she said. “My firearm’s legal. Every firearm we own is legal. I was carrying, legally. The protest was moving constantly — that’s the regulation for protest in a residential area. This is an attempt to scare me and stop me from what I’m doing.”

Colorado Springs Police Chief Vince Niski said his department supports everybody’s rights, but not committing illegal acts.

“As a department, we are committed to ensuring everyone’s rights. That includes protecting those who wish to speak against us and law enforcement as a whole. But what we cannot allow is for illegal behavior in our city.” Niski said in a statement.

Officials said they expect to make additional arrests in the future.

They published an individual dressed in all black, with a brown vest, who was brandishing a rifle at the riot, and asked for public assistance identifying the person.