Former Senate candidate, ‘Unite the Right’ supporter arrested in Florida on kidnapping and domestic violence charges

A former Senate candidate and participant in the deadly 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Virginia was arrested Wednesday in Brevard County, Florida, on kidnapping and domestic violence charges, according to the Miami Herald.

Augustus Sol Invictus, who was born Austin Gillespie but legally changed his name, was arrested on an out-of-county warrant from the Rockville, S.C., Police Department on charges of kidnapping, “high and aggravated” domestic violence and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Florida officials have had Invictus under surveillance since South Carolina authorities notified them on Christmas that they believed he was in the area. The Brevard County Sheriff’s fugitive unit took him into custody without incident after he left a gym, according to The Associated Press.

In 2016, Invictus unsuccessfully ran for Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) seat. He identifies as a pagan and drew national attention during the campaign when he claimed to have killed a goat and drank its blood as part of a ritual.

While he has denied being a white supremacist in the past, Invictus has also denied the Holocaust, headlined the white supremacist “Unite the Right” rally and — according to event organizer Richard Spencer — wrote the first draft of a statement of purpose for rally organizers.

CORRECTION: Invictus did not win the Libertarian Party’s nomination to run against Rubio. Incorrect information appeared in a previous version of this story.