Leonard Pearso Ridge IV.
A man from Lower Bucks County was arrested Friday in connection with the January 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol.
Leonard Pearso Ridge IV, whose hometown was not released but published reports and records indicate is from Lower Southampton Township, was charged by federal prosecutors with obstructing an official proceeding, entering a restricted building and grounds, and disorderly conduct. A federal magistrate approved the criminal complaint on Wednesday and the arrest was made Friday.
In charging documents, federal agents made their case against Ridge by using social media communications and videos that were captured. Ridge posted at least five videos from the attack and that allowed the FBI to track him down, authorities said.
The investigation started after a friend brought Ridge’s Snapchat videos to the attention of special agents from the FBI.
“Let’s go, let’s go. Get in this bitch,” Ridge allegedly yelled in a video uploaded to Snapchat.
The videos show the action outside the U.S. Capitol and then inside. At some point, tear gas was being fired near the group that was in the federal building.
“America first, bitch,” is heard in one video, authorities said.
Special agents from the FBI spoke with two witnesses who knew Ridge from high school. Snapchat conversations obtained by law enforcement showed Ridge communicating that “something needs to change” because he was upset over the outcome of the 2020 election.
He reportedly told the user he “just made history” by taking part in the insurrection.
“Yeah man so epic I have a video of me fighting riot police in the capital [sic] building,” he allegedly wrote.
“Just pray for me that I don’t get arrested by the fbi,” he added.
Ridge wrote that “we” broke down the doors of Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office and Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and raided the offices, authorities said.
Federal agents used data obtained via search warrants to gather evidence. SnapChat data showed Ridge on Capitol grounds.
Law enforcement sources have previously told LevittownNow.com FBI special agents have made several visits in Bucks County speaking to people who were in Washington D.C. on the day of the insurrection that left dozens of police officers injured and left an attacker dead after she was shot by a U.S. Capitol officer.
Two Levittown-area residents have been charged in connection with January 6. A former Levittown woman, a woman from the upper end of the county, and an elderly Northampton Township man have also been charged
So far, six Bucks Countians have been charged in connection with the Capitol riots. The county is among the top in the country for highest number of residents charged in connection with January 6.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
See also:
Wife’s Facebook Posts Helped FBI Nab Bucks County Man On Capitol Riot-Related Charges
Lawyer For Bucks Co. Man Accused Of Capitol Riot Assault Claims He Was Beaten By Prison Staff
Bucks County Woman Charged As Part Of Capitol Insurrection Investigation
Federal Agents Take Accused Montco Terrorist Into Custody, New Charges To Be Unsealed Friday
Accused Montco Domestic Terrorist Gets Bailed Out, Facebook Account Removed Short Time Later
