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A supporter of President Donald Trump was arrested after federal officials identified him as the man who allegedly stormed the U.S. Capitol with rioters while he was wearing a handful of zippers – as shown by viral photos circulating online.
Eric Gavelek Munchel, 30, of Tennessee, was arrested Sunday in his state and charged with “one count of knowingly entering or staying in a building or restricted land without legal authorization and a count of ‘violent entry and disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds,’ the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a statement.
Authorities alleged Munchel was inside the Capitol building during the crowd assault last Wednesday.
“Photos illustrating his presence show a person who appears to be Munchel wearing plastic straps, an object in a holster on his right hip and a cell phone mounted to his chest with the camera facing out, apparently to record the events. of the day, ”the DOJ said.
Win McNamee / Getty
Getty Images photos of the suspect circulated on social media in the aftermath of the attack, raising fears that rioters considered taking lawmakers hostage. Authorities have yet to release information on where the suspect got the ziplines or what he planned to do with them.
Prior to his arrest, citizens used online documents to identify Munchel as the rioter carrying a zipped tie, along with some screenshots of his Facebook page on social media. The Facebook page has since been deleted.
Other users have found footage showing the suspect marching during protests in Washington DC on Wednesday, as well as similar pro-Trump protests in Nashville.
According to NewsChannel 5, Munchel was taken to Nashville Jail at 2:50 p.m. local time.
Larry Rendell Brock of Texas was also arrested Sunday in connection with the attack on the home of Congress. Brock has been identified as one of the people who allegedly stormed the building as Congress gathered to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.
Brock “illegally entered the United States Capitol with a green helmet, a green tactical vest with patches, a black and camouflage jacket and beige pants holding a flexible white lapel, which is used by law enforcement to detain and / or detain subjects “, according to the authorities.
Both cases will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the DOJ’s National Security Division. They will be assisted by the offices of the United States Attorney General for the North District of Texas and the Intermediate District of Tennessee.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment. This story will be updated with any response.
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