TEXARKANA, Texas -A Hooks, Texas, man suspected of being loyal to anti-government extremist group "Boogaloo Bois" is set for trial next month in Bowie County on charges including attempted capital murder of a peace officer.
Aaron Caleb Swenson, 37, appeared for a final pretrial hearing Tuesday before 102nd District Judge Jeff Addison. Bowie County District Attorney Jerry Rochelle said the state is ready to present the case to a jury June 1.
"At this time the state will withdraw any and all offers that have been presented in this case," Rochelle said.
"We look forward to presenting this to a Bowie County jury to see how they feel about the behavior he's engaged in."
If convicted of attempted capital murder of a peace officer, Swenson faces five to 99 years or life in prison. Attempted murder, a lesser offense included in Swenson's indictment, is punishable by two to 20 years. Terroristic threatening is typically punishable by two to 10 years in prison though Swenson could face an increased punishment range of up to 20 years because of the hate crime enhancement.
Swenson is accused of streaming on Facebook Live as he drove the streets of Texarkana, Texas, on a Saturday night in mid-April, 2020, searching for a police officer to kill, according to a probable cause affidavit. Swenson is charged with attempted capital murder, attempted murder and terroristic threatening. Swenson's indictment for terroristic threatening includes an enhancement under the Texas Hate Crimes Act.
Swenson had been the subject of a federal warning notice to area law enforcement months before he allegedly armed himself, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and body armor and began "hunting the hunters," First Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp said at a bond hearing last year.
Crisp said then that statements allegedly made by Swenson about law enforcement include a promise that "tyrants and red coats are going to die tonight."
Local 911 dispatchers received multiple calls alerting police to the live stream April 11, 2020. Officers searching for Swenson could hear him say he was looking for "red and blue lights" and that he spoke of "finding his prey" as he passed a patrol car on an Interstate 30 access road, according to a probable cause affidavit.
An officer watching the live feed quickly identified the possible make and model of a late Chevy or GMC pickup by the appearance of an image of the vehicle's dashboard on the Facebook Live stream. As Texarkana, Texas, police closed in, Swenson allegedly led them on a high speed chase. A spike strip was used on Leary Road to deflate one of Swenson's tires but he allegedly continued driving west on U.S. Highway 82 for several miles before finally coming to a stop and placing his hands on the roof of his truck.
"Officers began conducting a felony traffic stop but Swenson would not turn his music down or listen to the verbal commands," the affidavit states. "After approximately 20 minutes of giving verbal commands Swenson decided to step out of the vehicle."
Swenson was allegedly wearing body armor and a large cache of weapons was reportedly recovered from his 2018 Chevy Silverado.
Swenson is currently being held in the Bowie County jail with bail set at $1 million. He is represented by the Bowie County Public Defender's Office.