Palm Bay man accused in white supremacist plot
Cocoa, Florida -- A Palm Bay man was arrested Monday in connection with the investigation into the white-supremacist group American Front, making it the 12th arrest.
Local 6 news partner Florida Today reports an anonymous tip led Melbourne police to Dylan Rettenmaier, 25, at the BP gas station at Sarno Road and Apollo Boulevard.
Officers arrived at about 5:30 p.m. to find Rettenmaier walking out of the gas station and getting into a truck that belonged to his mother. Police arrested him without incident. His bond is set at $250,000, according to Melbourne police.
The other 11 suspects were arrested last week on charges of paramilitary training, attempting to shoot into a home and evidence of prejudices while committing offense.
Rettenmaier was camping somewhere in north Melbourne, police said. It appeared he was in the process of setting up a camp behind the gas station. Police said he knew there was a warrant out for his arrest.
Rettenmaier has two convictions for disorderly conduct and battery as well as several past arrests in Palm Bay, according to records, one of which he's accused of criminal mischief after he smashed a car window with a baseball bat in March.
Rettenmaier was convicted of battery on a detention facility staff member in Marion County. He was released from prison in 2009.
He was arrested later that year after allegedly making harassing phone calls to an ex-girlfriend and got in a fight with an ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend, according to Palm Bay police reports. The reports also say he sent one former girlfriend text messages calling her a "disgusting race traitor," and said "liberal scum like you is the reason white is a dying race."
Last year, police arrested him on a charge of aggravated battery, saying he abused a pregnant woman.
