LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A Las Vegas man has been identified for his alleged involvement in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
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According to a criminal complaint filed by federal authorities in the District of Columbia, the FBI used surveillance video, social media posts and tips from the public to identify 31-year-old Nathaniel J. DeGrave, 31-year-old Ronnie Sandlin and another man named Josiah Colt.
In a video posted by Sandlin, he states:
What is happening to this country is absolutely horrific, absolutely horrific…we are ready to occupy the state capitol if needed to…I urge other patriots watching this too, to be willing to take the capitol…if you are watching this and you are a patriot and are here, I think it is time to take the capitol and I don’t say that lightly…. I am willing to do it, I willing to go and fight for this country. Even if that means I have to sacrifice in some capacity. It is not what I want to do…
A Facebook comment by DeGrave reads:
“It’s time the American people rise and stand up for this country. We’re tired of the corruption.”
According to the complaint, Sandlin organized a “caravan of patriots” to Washington, D.C., to stand behind President Donald Trump. A Facebook posts says that Sandlin, DeGrave and Colt booked and paid for a trip to Washington and asked for contributions to a GoFundMe.
Video from inside of the Capitol building appears to show Sandlin and the person believed to be DeGrave in a shoving match with officers. The video also shows the man believed to be DeGrave putting up his fists as if to begin boxing with officers and banging on his chest.
Additionally, the man resembling DeGrave is seen on a video showing his phone and what appears to be a stack of bricks. When Sandlin asks “Nate” if he wants to say something, he replies:
“We are out here protecting the country, if shit goes down, if Pence does what we think he is going to do. Then we are here to defend this city, defend any city in this country. Let Antifa try us, we are here, we are ready. I say bring it. We are not silent anymore.”
The men were reportedly arrested on Thursday by the FBI in Las Vegas. Their names have not been released by the FBI or local law enforcement, who assisted in the arrest. However, both DeGrave and Sandlin are currently being held at the Henderson Detention Center.
According to the East Idaho News, Josiah Colt was arrested on Jan. 12 in Idaho.
Court documents for Colt show him dangling from a balcony above the Senate floor and sitting in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s chair during the riot.
UNLV sociology professor Robert Futrell says this is all fueled by fears of losing power.
“Certainly, under the last administration, they had a lot. And maybe they have some change now they have to contend with,” he said.
Futrell says the increase in conspiracies and debunked theories at the highest levels of government has motivated some people.
“They really believe that there’s some kind of deep state behind what you see on the surface,” Futrell said.
He also says the rioters believed they wouldn’t be punished for their actions. Instead, they got a rude awakening.
“You see how surprised they are," he said. "Why would you arrest me? I’m a patriot. I’m one of the good people."
"That’s what true believers imagine,” said Futrell.
He says the arrests by the FBI are a start and expects to see more.
“We really need to have some kind of push to address it and I think that’s part of what we’re seeing now,” he said.
