Election 2020

Texas Man Who Stormed the Capitol Holding Zip-Tie Restraints Was Turned in By His Ex-Wife

It’s a good thing that most of the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol building last week didn’t wear masks — it makes it that much easier for authorities and the amateur detectives among us to identify them. That’s what happened in the case of Larry Rendall Brock. An image of him participating in the January 6 revolt was broadcast widely and soon recognized by his ex-wife, The Cut reports.

An arrest affidavit for Brock states that his ex-wife contacted the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center on January 8, because she recognized his military gear. It’s reported that she said “I just know that when I saw this was happening I was afraid he would be there. It is such a good picture of him and I recognize his patch.”

The woman, who isn’t identified in the affidavit, was married to Brock for 18 years, but she’s not the only one who identified him, however. Footage of the riot shows him carrying zip ties, and one researcher who watched the video told The New Yorker’s Ronan Farrow that “contextual clues from his military paraphernalia” coupled with facial-recognition software made it easy for him to identify Brock. Two of Brock’s family members and a former friend also recognized him from the footage and on January 8, another unidentified tipster contacted the FBI to say they recognized Brock and knew who he was thanks to the pilot wings he wore.

“He was an A-10 pilot. Worked at L3, and he still has contacts that work with L3 that knew he was flying to Washington, D.C.,” the former friend said.

The Justice Department arrested Brock on Sunday, charging him with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority. He was also charged with one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, The Cut reports.

Another rioter, Eric Gavelek Munchel, was also arrested and charged after footage showed him wielding zip ties. The FBI has also reportedly received more than 100,000 tips, and is continuing to seek information from the public, especially in regards to the “suspected use of explosive devices, or violent, destructive acts associated with the recent unrest” as well as “individuals who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind.”

I’m very worried this insurrection may not be the last one. Some of Donald Trump supporters, fueled over the past four years by his scary rhetoric may be spurred to do it again. I’m trying to have faith in those who are supposed to know what to do in these situations but I’m finding it difficult to do so.

I hope I’m wrong.

meet the author

Megan has lived in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida and she currently lives in Central America. Living in these places has informed her writing on politics, science, and history. She is currently owned by 15 cats and 3 dogs and regularly owns Trump supporters when she has the opportunity. She can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GaiaLibra and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/politicalsaurus

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