King County prosecutors have charged the suspected leader of Washingtons chapter of the violent neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division with unlawful possession of a firearm, in violation of a court order issued under the states red-flag law.
Kaleb James Cole, 24, was charged with the gross misdemeanor Monday. A warrant was issued for his arrest in Washington, with bail set at $20,000, according to court documents from the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office. Court documents list his last known address as a residence in Arlington, Snohomish County, but officials did not say if they know where he is now. The warrant is nonextraditable, so he can only be arrested in Washington in connection with the charge.
A judge granted Seattle Police Departments petition for an extreme risk protection order against Cole in October, under which his firearms were confiscated and he was banned from possessing guns for a year. A violation of the order could result in a five-year ban under state law.
Seattle officials argued that Cole has recently shown a pattern of acts or threats of violence that necessitated removing his weapons. In their petition, police cited his participation in weapons training and recruitment efforts at hate camps in Washington, relying heavily on reporting by ProPublica, and his travel to places like the Auschwitz concentration camp. There, he took photos holding an Atomwaffen flag and performing Nazi salutes, which federal officials found on his cellphone.
Washington voters overwhelmingly approved the states red flag law that allows such orders in 2016, which let police and family members ask a judge to keep firearms out of the hands of people believed to pose a threat to themselves or others. As reported by The New York Times, officials in 17 states that have adopted red flag laws have found themselves in uncertain territory, balancing public safety with individuals rights.
The order against Cole was granted in King County, but prosecutors here are arguing that he showed blatant disregard and violated it when he was pulled over in November by deputies in Texas who said they found multiple assault rifles inside his car. A Washington man in the passenger seat, who officials believe is also a member of Atomwaffen, said the guns were his and is facing a federal gun charge.