AZ Patriots leader Jennifer Harrison arrested on suspicion of identity theft
Uriel J. Garcia and Daniel Gonzalez, Arizona RepublicPublished 5:57 p.m. MT Oct. 25, 2019 | Updated 8:40 p.m. MT Oct. 26, 2019
 Jennifer M. Harrison (Photo: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)
The leader of a group of activists against illegal immigration was arrested by Surprise police on suspicion of identity theft, according to court records and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Jennifer M. Harrison, 42, was booked into jail by Surprise police on Oct. 24 on one count of taking the identity of another, a Class 4 felony, said Sgt. Bryant Vanegas, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Harrison, a founder of the right-wing group AZ Patriots, was released from custody on Friday morning, Vanegas said.
The charge is commonly used to prosecute undocumented immigrants who use a fictitious name or someone's identity to obtain a job in Arizona.
But in this case, Harrison is accused of taking "the identity of another by accessing an elderly victim's hotel points," according to a probable cause statement.
Police allege she did this on Sept. 30 to make a hotel reservation in Northern California to attend a rock music festival, the statement says.
Harrison also was recently the subject of a viral video.
The footage depicted her and another man protesting a proposal at Tucson City Hall that would prohibit police from inquiring about a person's immigration status.
Meanwhile, a mustachioed man, simply known as the "green-shirt guy" for his lime-colored polo, bursts into laughter at Harrison and the man she's with.
Report: Harrison said she is 'above the law'When she was arrested and transferred to a Surprise police station, she told officers she was innocent and did not cooperate with police, the court document says.
"Jennifer created a scene at the PD (police department) and in the booking room because she believes she is above the law and does not want to be treated like a criminal," the document says.
 Screenshot of Jennifer Harrison's Facebook. (Photo: Via Facebook)
Police also said she kicked over a trash can and used profanity, the statement says.
According to the probable cause statement, Harrison used the victim's name, address and club-reward points to make the hotel reservation.
"This was done without (the) knowledge and permission of the victim who is willing to aid in prosecution," the court document says.
According to her Facebook account, Harrison attended the Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, which took place from Oct. 11 to Oct. 13.
In a message to The Arizona Republic via Facebook messenger, Harrison said, "My attorney said no comment but you should wait until the truth comes out before you write a story."
Media passOn Tuesday, Harrison tweeted out four pictures, one of which shows a media credential pass that mentions Reporters Without Borders, an international nonprofit organization based in Paris that advocates for freedom of the press.
Harrison tweeted she was at the Culture War event, a gathering hosted at Grand Canyon University in which Donald Trump Jr. was a speaker.
Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, a reporter with the Arizona Mirror, a local nonprofit news organization, tweeted at Reporters Without Borders, asking if Harrison is a member of their organization.
The organization tweeted back: "Hi @JerodMacEvoy, thanks for bringing this to our attention. Jennifer Harrison is not affiliated with @RSF_en, we're not sure what our logo is doing on her press pass. Please let us know if you ever happen to come across something like this again. Thanks!"
Jerod MacDonald-Evoy@JerodMacEvoy
· Oct 22, 2019
Hey @RSF_en is Jennifer Harrison actually a part of your organization like she is claiming on her press credentials in this photo? t.co
RSF in English
?@RSF_en
Hi @JerodMacEvoy, thanks for bringing this to our attention. Jennifer Harrison is not affiliated with @RSF_en, we're not sure what our logo is doing on her press pass. Please let us know if you ever happen to come across something like this again. Thanks!
2:20 PM - Oct 23, 2019
Harrison has since deleted the tweet, but MacDonald-Evoy had taken a screenshot of the original tweet.
 kenny  @kennyjacobs
· Oct 22, 2019
Replying to @JerodMacEvoy @RSF_en
Did you get a screenshot? Looks like she deleted it.
Jerod MacDonald-Evoy@JerodMacEvoy
I indeed did. So why did you delete the tweet @AZ_Patriots ?
11:32 AM - Oct 23, 2019 · Arizona, USA
Reporters Without Borders didn't immediately respond to questions from The Republic asking if they plan to pursue this any further.
“Never claimed to be part of any group other than AZ Patriots," Harrison told The Republic via Facebook Messenger on Saturday. "We got media credentials for the event under AZ Patriots, that we requested using our page platform and reach.”
She said the reference to Reporters Without Borders was simply a quote about an organization she supports.
Turning Point USA, the group that organized the event at GCU, did not immediately respond to questions about Harrison's credential.
The AZ Patriots, on its Facebook page, refers to the group as "citizen journalists and activists."
 The screenshot shows a portion of AZ Patriot's Facebook page. (Photo: Via Facebook)
Who are the AZ PatriotsHarrison is a founder of AZ Patriots, a group that has staged protests at Phoenix-area churches hosting asylum-seeking migrant families released by federal immigration authorities, at the state Capitol and at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The group often livestreams its activities on Facebook.
On Sept. 20, a federal judge ordered Harrison and three other AZ Patriots members to stop trespassing at several churches in the Phoenix area that had provided temporary shelter, food and clothing to asylum-seeking migrant families released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The order was part of a consent decree which members of the group agreed to sign to end a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of the churches by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The lawsuit accused members of AZ Patriots, and a related group, Patriot Movement AZ, of threatening, harassing and intimidating members of the churches and also of making defamatory remarks.
Harrison is listed as the organizer of a fundraiser on GoFundMe that launched in June. The fundraiser has raised more than $4,700 for legal fees related to the lawsuit, according to the online site.
The day after the federal judge finalized the consent decree, Harrison and another member of AZ Patriots showed up at a Methodist church in Prescott that was hosting an immigration-related panel discussion.
Members of the church asked Harrison to stop livestreaming the event after the church began receiving harassing telephone calls while panelists were talking.
CHURCHES HOUSING MIGRANTS: How Patriot Movement AZ sows fear at churches
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