Authorities have made a series of arrests following the riots at the Capitol. The U.S. Department of Justice announced several cases this weekend with serious disturbing allegations.
Authorities say they have charged several rioters who were allegedly caught in photos and videos that went viral in the aftermath, including a man in Arizona who was seen in a hat with a horn and wearing a spear, and a Florida man accused of carrying a chair through the Capitol. used by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The latest arrests include the man named ‘zip tie guy’, who brought zip ties commonly used by law enforcement to the Capitol. He was identified as Eric Munchel of Tennessee and arrested Sunday.
Another man, Larry Brock of Texas, was allegedly identified on Sunday “as one of the individuals who entered the U.S. Capitol illegally … with a white bending cuff, used by law enforcement to restrain subjects and / or to to hold, “according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The FBI alleges that Brock’s ex-wife resigned from his involvement.
Another case is the case announced by Alabama resident Lonnie Coffman. U.S. Capitol police officers saw the handle of a firearm in a pickup truck registered with Coffman, police said. Members of the Capitol police bomb squad searched the truck and found 11 Molotov cocktails and a firearm storage area, including an automatic weapon.
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The police stopped Coffman from returning to his truck and found him carrying two handguns. The 11 mason jugs found in the truck contained molten whipped cream and gasoline, Coffman told police. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the combination has the effect of napalm because it causes the flammable liquid to adhere better to objects when it explodes.
Coffman is charged with unlawful possession of a destructive device, which imposed a maximum sentence of ten years, and a pistol without a license, with a maximum sentence of years. He is in custody pending a trial Tuesday.
There has been no response from Coffman’s lawyer yet.
Federal officials also said they had arrested a state legislator in West Virginia, Derrick Evans, who allegedly believed he was storming the Capitol. He represents the 19th District of West Virginia in the state legislature.
Evans, a Republican, has just been elected to his seat in the legislature. He resigned Saturday.
He has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Richard Barnett, who was photographed with his feet on the speaker of House Nancy Pelosi’s desk on Wednesday, was arrested on Friday, according to law enforcement.
Richard Barnett of Arkansas is also arrested, the man suspected of illegally entering the home office, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, putting his feet on the desk and sending mail. He will face illegal entry charges and theft charges.
Adam Johnson, a Florida man accused of carrying a talent through the United States Capitol, as seen in a viral photo, was arrested and booked into Pinellas County Jail.
Thirteen people, including Barnett and Coffman, were charged in the federal court in DC by the end of Friday night, the Justice Department announced. The FBI and the Department of Justice say they have appointed hundreds of officers and prosecutors to handle cases from the Capitol riots.
Mark Leffingwell allegedly entered the Senate’s side of the Capitol and then struck an officer in the helm and chest at Capitol Grounds. He is now charged with assault on a federal law enforcement, illegal entry and other charges, the Justice Department said.
Leffingwell will be in custody for at least three days, News4 learned on Saturday.
Nicholas Ochs, who is said to be the head of the Proud Boys chapter in Hawaii, is scheduled for his court appearance in the U.S. District Court in Hawaii.
Federal prosecutors showed photos of Ochs in court reports, claiming he was in the Capitol illegally and smoking a cigarette during the riot.
A Maryland man, Christopher Alberts, is charged with having two guns and ammunition near the Capitol, the Department of Justice said.
According to the Department of Justice, Cleveland Grover Meredith, Jr. Also arrested for ‘threatening interstate for speaker Nancy Pelosi’.
. Investigators say Meredith is texting others that he will place a bullet in Pelosi’s head.
Although he did not arrive in the district in time for the pro-Trump rally, Meredith was found to be in possession of “a box of suspicious THC food and a bottle of testosterone cypionate / propionate”, unregistered firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, the FBI said.
At least 14 more people are facing charges of chaos at the US Capitol. The indictment contains many worrying allegations. News4’s Scott MacFarlane went through the records and asked questions to the Department of Justice.
In one text, Meredith said: ‘Think about going to Pelosi (obscenity) and putting a bullet in her noggin on Live TV [purple devil emoji]. In another he asked: ‘How much do I give myself to dig up the Capital lawn with a big truck?’
Charges of trespassing and knowingly entering a restricted building or site include: Barnett; Leffingwell; Matthew Council, of Florida; Cindy Fitchett, of Virginia; Michael Curzio, of Florida; Douglas Sweet, of Florida; Bradley Ruskelas, of Illinois; Terry Brown, of Pennsylvania and Thomas Gallagher.
Those six were arrested after refusing to leave the top tier of the U.S. Visitor Center. Officers pulled them out of a larger crowd and handcuffed them, according to court documents.
About 40 people have been arrested in the high court and charged with offenses, including unlawful entry, violations of the curfew and gun crimes, authorities said.
Twitter announced on Friday that it had permanently suspended President Donald Trump from the platform for using language that “would most likely encourage and inspire people to repeat the criminal acts that took place at the U.S. Capitol.”
U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly, D-Virginia, says more charges against more people are clearly justified.
“Anyone who has taken part in the uprising and occupation of the American Capitol, which is illegal, must be held accountable and brought to justice,” Connolly said.
Larry Cosme, head of the Federal Law Enforcement Association, says more charges are justified against more people.
“Anyone who tries to injure men and women in the law enforcement community, federal, state or local, will have serious consequences,” Cosme said.
Federal officials said there was no indication that Antifa was involved.
These people are wanted by DC police and the FBI for illegal access, stolen property and other charges. Click on a photo for more information.