Body camera footage shows the first interactions police in Knox County had with a man accused of being involved in a plot to attack a White House event.
Danville police went to the home of 19-year-old Tycen Proper on June 10 after Proper’s mother called with concerns about her son’s recent behavior, purchases, and comments.
Proper is facing four federal charges accusing him of being involved in planning the plot to attack the June 14 UFC fight happening on the White House lawn in celebration of President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. Proper is being held in the Franklin County jail, awaiting future hearings.
When officers arrived on June 10, Proper’s mom spoke with them on the porch. She said she had concerns about her son’s behavior. He had called off from work, and then quit his landscaping job, where he had worked since January and showed up for work faithfully.
Proper came onto the porch a few minutes into the conversation. He gave short answers to police questions, saying he had no homicidal or suicidal intentions or plans of hurting others. He had no obvious reactions to the comments his mother was making to the officers.
She told police her son had recently purchased multiple firearms, ammunition, triage bandages and camping gear. She asked Proper why he needed so many bullets.
Proper’s answer is not clearly audible, so the Danville officers ask his mother to repeat what he said.
“He says he never has enough,” she said.
The officers asked Proper about the people he was speaking with and if he knew their names. Proper said he only knew their online usernames and planned to meet them in West Virginia.
“You want to go to another state and meet up with people who you don’t even know their real names,” one of the Danville officers asks.
While Danville officers were still at the home talking to Proper and, his mother and other family members on the front porch, a Knox County Sheriff’s sergeant came to the home and asked Proper to go with him to get a behavioral health care assessment based on comments Proper’s father had made about the 19-year-old’s recent behavior.
Proper agreed and voluntarily went with deputies, who then filed paperwork to have him placed on a psychiatric hold for up to 72 hours for examination.
After Proper left, his parents and a sibling continued talking with the Danville officers.
“We raised our kids in the church, we’ve always taught them right from wrong,” Proper’s mother said. “He’s twisting it and distorting it with the people he’s talking to … If you want to fight evil, then become a police officer. Do it the right way.”
One of Proper’s siblings told officers Proper had tried to convince him to come on the trip to West Virginia and had made comments about dropping bombs and shooting places up. He also said Proper had made comments about wanting to join the military so he could kill evil people.
Proper’s mom said her son had wanted to be a police officer since he was little but was still too young and had met with an Army recruiter in recent months to discuss joining the infantry. She said he expressed particular anger over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
“We’re all angry about it, but this is not the right way to deal with it,” she said.
Proper’s mom showed the officers pictures of items the 19-year-old had purchased, including thousands of rounds of ammunition, first aid kits and tourniquets, multiple firearms and body armor. She also said she found a journal in which Proper had a list of names of people she found suspicious. She told police they ought to look through his phone.
According to court records, police searched Proper’s home the following day, June 11, and seized evidence. Proper also spoke with police and gave them information about the conversations he was having online and the attack plans, court records say. The group Proper was interacting with is identified in court records as “Vanguard of the Old.”
The alleged plans involved using drones equipped with explosives to detonate over the UFC fight area and then having snipers strategically placed to shoot at people being funneled through evacuation points.
Federal officials have said Proper’s mother calling the police is what tipped them off to the plot and helped to thwart it before anyone could be hurt.
At least four other people have been charged around the country, and others are being sought for questioning as the investigation remains ongoing.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Police video shows encounter with alleged White House drone attack plotter
Reporting by Bethany Bruner, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Bethany Bruner, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
