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A former Navy who went viral in 2018 for saving dogs from rising flood waters during Hurricane Florence in North Carolina has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the Jan.6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Ryan Nichols, 30, of Longview, Texas, appeared on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” after his actions during Florence gained media attention. NBC News spoke to him in the middle of the hurricane cleanup, after it went viral when he was filmed rescuing six dogs left behind by their owners.
He said his home and business was flooded during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, but he and a friend helped people in his community get to safety.
“That’s when I decided that when we see a hurricane we’re going to help,” Nichols told NBC News at the time.
He said he and his friend had traveled about 1,200 miles from Texas to Leland, North Carolina, to rescue people from their flooded homes.
But another trip across the country with a different friend Nichols faces a slew of charges, including conspiracy and illegal entry with a dangerous weapon; violent entry and disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds; help and encouragement; civil disorder; and assault on a federal agent using a deadly or dangerous weapon.
Nichols was arrested Jan. 18 and is being held at Smith County Jail in Tyler, Texas, according to jail records.
A criminal complaint against Nichols and Alex Kirk Harkrider, 32, says two witnesses have informed the FBI of photos and videos on social media showing the couple during the Capitol riot earlier this month.
Authorities said the riot resulted in the deaths of five people, including a Capitol Hill police officer.
Harkrider was also arrested on Jan. 18 and is being held at Gregg County Jail in Texas, according to records.
Various photos and videos on Nichols’ Facebook page show him and Harkrider inside and outside the U.S. Capitol building with the crowds, according to the criminal complaint. One photo is captioned “We are there”.
“We haven’t finished yet! We have just started! Says another legend.
In a later post on Nichols’ Facebook page, where his cover photo was a photo of him appearing on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” he wrote: “The Patriots held on today!”
“We’re not done yet, either! You want to steal our election, and not get along in court? Good! Now you’ll hear our civil unrest!” the message continued.
Other photos and videos show the couple standing first in front of a broken window and then inside the building on the other side of the broken window with Harkrider leaning out of it.
Video shows the two men on the windowsill, with Nichols holding a megaphone and crowbar.
“If you have a gun, you must get your gun!” Nichols can be heard shouting into the megaphone. “This is the second revolution here! … This is not a peaceful demonstration, ”he shouts.
Nichols was also filmed spraying what appears to be pepper spray on an unknown officer guarding the Capitol building, according to the criminal complaint.
The two men were recorded with other rioters chanting “Heave! Ho!” as the crowd “comes and goes towards the entrance,” according to the complaint.
Harkrider, meanwhile, posted on Snapchat: “We’re already here. Two people have already been killed. We need all the patriots in this country to rally the f — ups and fight for our freedom or whatever. is gone forever. Give us freedom, or give us death. We won’t accept it. The released photo appears to show a baton inside his jacket, authorities noted.
Investigators also discovered a second Facebook page allegedly operated by Nichols. One message was a photo of a bullet and read: “By bullet or by ballot, the restoration of the Republic is coming.”
On December 28, 2020, Nichols posted on the same Facebook page that “Pence better do the right thing, or we’ll MAKE you do the right thing,” according to the criminal complaint.
It is not known whether Nichols or Harkrider have lawyers. On Friday afternoon, efforts to reach the two men by phone were unsuccessful.
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