Tyler Bradley Dykes, a 25-year-old from Bluffton, South Carolina, has been arrested in Charlottesville, Virginia, in connection with the January 6th Capitol riot. Dykes, who recently completed a prison sentence for his participation in a 2017 white nationalist march at the University of Virginia, is accused of attacking police officers and storming the Capitol building.

Court records indicate that Dykes made his initial court appearance on Monday and a federal judge ordered him held until a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday. FBI documentation, including video evidence, reportedly shows Dykes dismantling police barricades, assaulting officers, and stealing a riot shield during the January 6th attack.

Dykes's previous conviction stemmed from his involvement in the August 2017 torch-lit march at UVA, the night before the tragic "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge of burning an object with intent to intimidate and served a short prison sentence, concluding just prior to his arrest for the Capitol riot charges.

The FBI had previously interviewed Dykes in 2019 regarding potential ties to extremist groups. Authorities suspect he may still be associated with groups like the South Carolina-based "Southern Sons Active Club," a white supremacist network. These groups consider themselves warriors preparing for a conflict against a system they believe is conspiring against the white race, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

The FBI received a tip in December 2021 alleging that Dykes had bragged about assaulting officers at the Capitol, claiming he went there for "fun" and to "make a statement." Video footage reportedly shows Dykes, wearing a gray gaitor, marching to the Capitol with two other individuals and participating in the attacks on the east side of the building.

He allegedly stole a riot shield, raised it above his head, and continued to move through the Capitol building with the stolen shield, even after police unsuccessfully attempted to subdue him with pepper spray. Dykes is facing charges that include interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder.

A federal public defender has been appointed to represent Dykes, but declined to comment on the charges.