A pardoned January 6 participant was chased, attacked, and doused with what he claims was gasoline by masked anti-ICE protesters outside a Los Angeles detention center Saturday in a violent confrontation captured on video.

Violent Confrontation Outside Detention Center

Jon Mellis, 39, a conservative influencer known online as PatriotWildMan, attended an anti-ICE protest Saturday at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center. Within minutes of conducting interviews with protesters, he was recognized despite wearing a mask. Video footage shows masked individuals surrounding Mellis, calling him a Proud Boy, throwing objects, and allegedly pouring a liquid substance on him before punching him in the face. He escaped the pursuing mob after being struck multiple times in the head.

Cameraman Eoin Richard, who has covered protests across Washington, Chicago, and Minneapolis, filmed the entire incident. Richard told The Post that those who attacked Mellis were Antifa protesters. The violence erupted suddenly after Mellis completed only two or three nonpartisan interviews asking basic questions about why people attended the demonstration marking the one-year anniversary of ICE raids.

Police Response and Aftermath

After fleeing to safety, Mellis and Richard contacted Los Angeles police. Officers placed Mellis in handcuffs in the back of a patrol car but did not arrest him. The officer explained he was providing escort protection due to the volatile situation, not detaining him. Police transported Mellis to his vehicle as tensions escalated toward riot conditions. Richard claims Department of Homeland Security agents were deployed to the scene, and ABC 7 reported multiple arrests were made, though LAPD could not confirm if any arrests related directly to the attack on Mellis.

Background on the Pardoned Activist

Mellis pleaded guilty to assaulting an officer during the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. He served four years in federal prison before President Trump pardoned him. Since his release, Mellis has worked as a full-time conservative influencer. He recently made headlines when security removed him from Spencer Pratt’s election night party after arriving uninvited. Mellis claimed he and his friend attended the anti-ICE protest masked and told people they worked with the Democratic National Committee, attempting to conduct interviews before being identified by his distinctive curly hair and online presence.

What This Means

The incident highlights escalating tensions between opposing political groups at protests. Richard noted that protesters even attempted to attack police officers during the melee. The violent response to a citizen conducting interviews raises concerns about freedom of speech and assembly at political demonstrations. The attack occurred despite Mellis initially concealing his identity and political affiliation. The quick escalation from verbal confrontation to physical violence and the alleged use of flammable liquid represents a dangerous trend in political activism.