A QAnon acolyte, owner of the AR-15, trapped with piercing bullets drove from Wisconsin to Washington, DC on March 3 and told U.S. Capitol police officers that “maybe he’ll do some stupid madness tomorrow.” “, the day of the followers of the discredited. conspiracy theory falsely believed that former President Donald Trump would assume the presidency again, according to a criminal complaint that was sealed March 19 in federal court.
Ian Alan Olson, who made the 800-mile journey in a 2016 Subaru adorned with QAnon slogans, told a service soldier outside the Capitol that he was going to “test the National Guard tomorrow to see if they were loyal to the people or to the president, ”who was“ willing to die to fulfill that mission ”and whose“ actions would unite eight billion people, ”the complaint says.
If he ended up being shot by the National Guard, according to Olson, he would know that the Guard was loyal to President Joe Biden. If the National Guard did not shoot him, Olson claimed that then he would know that the Guard was loyal to the citizenry. He explained that he would be “taken by the Spirit of Christ and lead the people toward unity,” the complaint says, and that “things can only be resolved with the barrel end of a weapon.”
“The core of QAnon’s conspiracy theory is the false belief that the world is ruled by a cabal of pedophiles and child traffickers who worshiped Satan (supposedly largely made up of prominent Democratic politicians, the so-called government employees of the” State “journalists and Hollywood Elite) and that President Trump is secretly working with Q and others to overthrow the Kabbalah,” says an affidavit attached to the complaint and signed by FBI Special Agent Justin Mosiman of the joint working group on terrorism of the Milwaukee Office. “Many followers of QAnon (known as ‘Announcements’) refer to themselves as ‘digital soldiers’ and believe that they are participating in an epic battle between good and evil and darkness and light. After the elections of 3 November 2020, many prominent QAnon supporters urged the “Announcements” to “trust the plan,” believing President-elect Biden’s victory was illusory and part of a convoluted plan. [an anonymous government official named] Q and others to reveal the crimes of Kabbalah in the world, which caused President Trump to get a second term. “
Dozens of people accused of participating in the January 6 Capitol riot were open supporters of QAnon. The alleged insurgent known as “QAnon Shaman” left a threatening note for Vice President Mike Pence in the Senate chamber. Another QAnon follower was seen wearing a “Q” T-shirt physically threatening a police officer and hoping to be seen on video so that the QAnon movement could be properly credited for participating in the siege.
In Olson’s case, Capitol police determined it was a danger to him and others and admitted him to a DC psychiatric hospital. There, Olson was diagnosed with a “brief psychotic disorder” and was discharged on March 5, according to the complaint.
Ten days later, Olson allegedly drove to the Army Reserve base in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, with his car, which had Q-related phrases such as “Trust my plan,” and “WWG1WGA.” a QAnon motto meaning “Where we go one, we all go,” spray-painted through the doors, hood, roof, rear window, and bumpers.
Driving to the base, Olson got out of the vehicle, shouted, “This is for America,” and fired an AR-15-style paintball gun at two uniformed reservists about 15 feet away. according to the documentation. After allegedly firing “two to three” cycles at the soldiers, Olson’s paintball gun apparently ran aground. At that time, the reservists — one of whom is described as a police officer in civilian life — attacked Olson and detained him as a police officer.
A tour of Olson’s car showed a gas mask, throwing knives, a police scanner, two-way radios, a taser and military-style ballistic vest plates, the complaint continues. Officers also found a three-page handwritten manifesto, which contained numerous mentions of Q and “my plan,” according to an arrest motion filed by prosecutors.
Olson was jailed in Waukesha County Jail on three state criminal charges: terrorist threats; battery attempt; and disorderly conduct. During the proceedings, Olson volunteered to return recently from Washington, DC, where he was unable to send the “message” he hoped to convey. According to the complaint, he said he planned to cause “massive casualties” when he left, and murmured under his breath, “People will remember my name.”
After refusing to speak to a mental health worker, Olson was released on March 16. His wife consented to a search of his home, where police found an AR-15 rifle (very real) with a range, a suppressor and seven magazines. loaded with perforating ammunition. Olson’s family told police there were several guns “still pending” and that they would hand them over to law enforcement.
On March 19, the FBI arrested Olson on two federal charges related to the incident at the Army Reserve base: assault on U.S. soldiers due to service; and assaulting, resisting, or preventing certain agents or employees, both misdemeanors.
He does not yet have a lawyer listed in the court records and could not be contacted for comment.