WASHINGTON — A Colorado man was arrested today on felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Tyler Earl Ethridge, 33, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with civil disorder, a felony, and related misdemeanor offenses. He was arrested in Denver. He is to make his initial court appearance today in the District of Colorado.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, Ethridge was among rioters illegally on the Capitol grounds. He helped remove fencing erected on the northwest approach to the Capitol. He proceeded with the crowd past the barricades to the West Plaza outside the Capitol Building. As law enforcement officers attempted to clear the crowd, Ethridge climbed a media scaffolding and exhorted the crowd to keep fighting. He entered the Capitol Building at approximately 2:35 p.m. through the West Terrace Door. He then moved to the Rotunda, where he filmed several videos that he posted to social media. In one, he stated, “I’m probably going to lose my job as a pastor after this … I think we’re to a point where talk is cheap. If this makes me lose my, my reputation, I don’t care.”
Ethridge left the Rotunda area and joined a crowd of rioters between the Rotunda and Senate Chamber. The rioters were blocked by law enforcement officers who ordered them to disperse. Ethridge and others refused, but eventually were pushed out of the hallway. He returned to the Rotunda and then exited the building. He was inside the Capitol for approximately 30 minutes.
In the aftermath of Jan. 6, Ethridge remained active on social media. In one post, dated Sept. 24, 2021, he wrote, “Don’t be afraid of what they sentence you with. I’m not. I’m ready for whatever I’ll be charged with. America is still primed and ready.”
While inside the Capitol building, the Parler posting pastor proclaimed, “Just to let you know, I’m not involved in this. I’m just observing.” #PastorParler pic.twitter.com/cp4aAIezYV
— Resist Programming 🛰 (@RzstProgramming) January 18, 2021
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Denver Field Office and its Colorado Springs Resident Agency, and the FBI’s Dallas Field Office and its Abilene Resident Agency. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 18 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 850 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 260 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
DOJ
News by Breaking911
