Police: Avowed anti-Semite arrested for making threats

A white nationalist in Ohio is accused of making threats against a Jewish community center after weapons, ammunition and bulletproof armor were found in his home.

Propaganda material was also found in the New Middleton residence of 20-year-old James Reardon Jr., according to WYTV.

“This is a person that has declared himself as a white nationalist," Police Chief Vincent D’Egidio said, according to the TV station. “With the hate crimes and everything else going on, we want to make sure we do our part to make sure we did our part to make sure this person was taken off the streets very quickly.”

Agents with the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force raided the home on Friday and found his arsenal, which included semi-automatic weapons. He has been charged with telecommunications harassment and aggravated menacing, and is being held in Mahoning County Jail on $250,000 bond as he awaits a court hearing on Monday.

Investigators say Reardon posted an Instagram video in July featuring a man shooting a semi-automatic rifle. The caption read, “police identified the Youngstown Jewish Family Community shooter as local white nationalist Seamus O’Rearedon,” according to WYTV.

“That kicked off an intense investigation, a very rapidly evolving investigation because of the way the world is,” D’Egidio told the TV station. Two years ago Reardon participated in the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va., which left counter-protester Heather Heyer and two state troopers dead, according to WYTV.

The Anti-Defamation League in Cleveland said in a statement that it is “grateful for the work of the FBI, local law enforcement and our community partners in the Youngstown Jewish community.”

“We will continue to employ all our resources to stop the spread of white nationalism and violent extremism,” the ADL said.

It is not clear whether Reardon will face federal charges.