FBI manhunt ends: Jan. 6 suspect Gregory Yetman surrenders in New Jersey

Gregory Yetman, the man wanted for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection – and who sparked a two-day search across the woods of New Jersey – surrendered to authorities Friday morning and is now in custody, the FBI said.

"Yetman turned himself into Monroe Township Police this morning, without incident," FBI spokeswoman Amy Thoreson said in a statement. Thoreson said Yetman is now in FBI custody.

Yetman had been subject of a manhunt since about 9 a.m. Wednesday. He fled into the woods near his home when local officers and agents attempted to serve him with an arrest warrant, the FBI said.

On Thursday, the FBI issued a "Wanted" poster for him, citing several federal charges including assault on officers, obstructing law enforcement and physical violence on the grounds of the Capitol. The FBI also set a $10,000 reward for information leading to Yetman’s arrest. 

Yetman was the subject of a USA TODAY investigation in March that revealed that hundreds of people who could be identified from photos and videos of the riots had not yet been charged or arrested. Many of those people had been identified by volunteer sleuths online and reported to the FBI. USA TODAY verified and sought out some of those people, including Yetman.

The week in extremism:Investigation, charges and a two-day manhunt for Jan. 6 suspect Gregory Yetman

In videos from Jan. 6, a man identified as suspect #278 AFO can be seen picking up a large canister of pepper spray from the ground and spraying it toward Capitol police and protesters. AFO stands for “Assault on a Federal Officer.”

Photos of that man were posted on the FBI's wanted list for the insurrection. Online sleuths matched the photos to Yetman, and a USA TODAY investigation found all signs pointed to the two people – #278 AFO and Yetman – being the same man.

Yetman told USA TODAY earlier this year the FBI interviewed him in January 2021. At the time, he said he has never heard from the bureau since. “Everything’s been resolved, everything’s good,” he said.

Yetman did not reply to multiple calls and text messages this week.

Thoreson said in a statement that Yetman refused medical treatment, and was unarmed when he turned himself in. He will be presented in court on Monday.

Yetman joins more than 1,000 people who have been arrested in the 2021 insurrection. But USA TODAY's March investigation found that many other people remain on the wanted list, identified by their photos and videos rather than their names.

Chris Slavicek, mayor of Helmetta Borough where Yetman lives, told USA TODAY he was relieved the hunt there is over.

"Honestly, it'a sigh of relief," Slavicek said. "I think the community will now continue on normally."

On Thursday, my central Jersey reported that Yetman has also been charged locally in New Jersey with fourth-degree possession of large capacity ammunition.