Jarrad Michael Leigh Searby (born 1986) is an Australianneo-Nazi and formerly the head of the now-defunct Australian chapter of theProud Boys.[1][2] He is known for his associations with others on thefar-right, his opposition to theVictorian Government's response to theCOVID-19 pandemic and his criminal conduct while a president of theFinks Motorcycle Club.[1][2][3]
Searby was involved in protests againstCOVID-19 lockdowns inMelbourne. In October 2021, he called for "people trained in some form of combat" to arrest police at protests in posts he made on social media. In November 2021, Searby and other Proud Boys were pepper sprayed by police at a protest onMelbourne Cup day. After the protest, he made posts on social media, stating that he and other Proud Boys had intervened when police had attempted to detail protestors.[3]
Searby was formerly the head of the defunct "borderlands" chapter of the far-right Proud Boys in Australia.[1][3] Searby had intended to use the Proud Boys as a gateway to recruit into the neo-NaziNational Socialist Network, but left after he became angry with their disavowal ofNeo-Nazism.[1] During an undercover journalist investigation conducted byThe Age,60 Minutes andThe Sydney Morning Herald, Searby was recorded stating "You know they ban any, like, they ban Nazis from the [Proud Boys] club ... you know if you start to askJewish questions or something like that in the Proud Boys they will basically just try to kick you out". Searby had been in touch with the US-based leader of the Proud Boys,Enrique Tarrio, who praised Searby in a online video. ThroughJacob Hersant, he was in contact withDenis Kapustin, who alongside Searby had a interest inMixed martial arts.[1]
Searby is a former president of theWodonga chapter of the Finks Motorcycle Club. In May and June 2023, he and other Finks' members stood over and threatened two men in an attempt to get money and drugs out of them. On 1 June, Searby entered the men's home and stole $30,000 worth of equipment. Police later raided his home in relation to the robbery and found stolen property, weapons and drugs. In May 2024, Searby was convicted and jailed, for more than two years, for blackmail, burglary and drug charges. He had been jailed four times previously.[2]
