The FBI is continuing its search for Gregory Yetman, a man wanted for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots. Yetman is believed to have fled on foot into the woods when authorities attempted to arrest him. The manhunt is in its second day, and the FBI will remain stationed in the New Jersey borough of Helmetta until he is captured. Yetman has been charged with possession of large-capacity ammunition. Authorities have not confirmed if he is armed. Susan Loyer reported
FBI Continues Search in Helmetta for Jan. 6 Suspect
The FBI will maintain a presence in Helmetta, New Jersey until Gregory Yetman, a resident wanted for his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, is apprehended. The manhunt for Yetman entered its second day, with the FBI Newark SWAT, the Jamesburg Police Department, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office leading the search. As of Thursday morning, there were no new developments in the case, according to FBI spokesperson Amy Thoreson.
Yetman is believed to have fled on foot into the nearby woods when authorities attempted to execute an arrest warrant on Main Street. He has been charged with fourth-degree possession of large-capacity ammunition, and the case has been forwarded to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. While authorities have not confirmed whether Yetman is armed, the search efforts have intensified.
Roads were briefly closed on Wednesday, restricting access to the borough, and residents were advised to shelter in place. A command center was established at the Helmetta Community Center, where heavily armed FBI agents and police officers from the Joint Terrorism Task Force have been stationed. The staging center is equipped with an armored vehicle to support the search operation.
Prior to the manhunt, Yetman garnered attention in a USA TODAY investigation, which highlighted individuals who participated in the Capitol riots but had not yet faced charges. Yetman was identified in videos from Jan. 6, where he can be seen using pepper spray against Capitol police and protesters. Photos of him were included on the FBI’s wanted list for the insurrection, labeling him as suspect #278 AFO (Assault on a Federal Officer).
Yetman, a former military police sergeant in the New Jersey National Guard, denied committing a crime during the riots and claimed to have been interviewed by the FBI shortly after the incident. He stated that everything had been resolved and that he was not involved in any criminal activities.
Yetman’s military background includes serving as a military officer with the Army National Guard and being a sergeant in the Army, where he was stationed at Guantanamo Bay. While federal prosecutors have already charged over 1,000 individuals in connection with the Jan. 6 raid on the Capitol, many others, like Yetman, remain on the FBI’s wanted list.
Anyone with information regarding Yetman’s whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI in Newark at 973-792-3000.
This article includes information from USA TODAY.
Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To gain unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
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