WASHINGTON (CN) — A Florida man linked to the Proud Boys was arrested Thursday on charges that he pepper-sprayed police during the Capitol riot and made a threatening call two weeks ago to an FBI agent.
Barry Ramey, 38, of Plantation, Florida, is accused of joining a group that, on Jan. 6, 2021, “pushed forward” into officers who were trying to stop them from breaching the Capitol building while Congress was certifying the presidential election results.
At one point, Ramey allegedly sprayed two officers in the eyes with an orange substance consistent with pepper spray that "caused them to become disoriented and have their vision impaired,” the Justice Department said in a press release.
According to the FBI affidavit, Ramey also made a threatening call on April 8 to a special agent who was investigating Ramey's role in the riot.
“Is this Mr. Nougaret? And you still live at [your affiant’s home address],” said the caller, who the FBI believes was Ramey.
After the agent asked who the caller was, the person hung up. The agent then received a text message — from the same number of the unknown caller — with a VIN number for a vehicle the agent previously owned.
“Check that VIN number.;),” the text said.
The agent said he believes Ramey obtained his number from a business card he left with a “close associate” of Ramey’s during an attempted interview on Feb. 11, 2022.
Crediting its information to multiple FBI confidential sources, the affidavit also states that Ramey is listed on a “master list” of Proud Boys members in Southern Florida.
He is charged with assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon; obstructing, impeding or interfering with an officer; carrying out an act of physical violence in the Capitol building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon and entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds with intent to disrupt.
Ramey is due to make his initial appearance on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Meanwhile, a federal judge in Washington set a new jury trial date for former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and five other affiliates of the right-wing extremist group who are facing conspiracy charges for their roles in the insurrection.
They were initially set to go to trial on May 17, but the date has been pushed back to Aug. 8 to give attorneys more time to prepare.
As of April 6, nearly 800 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol riot.
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