- May 21, 2024
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A Palm Coast man was among the rioters who confronted police in a tunnel of the Capitol's Lower West Terrace and pushed the police line back with a “heave-ho” effort during the Capitol breach, according to the Department of Justice.
Suspect Jonathan Rockholt, 38, was one of five Jan. 6 suspects from Florida who were arrested Aug. 25, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. More than 860 people have been arrested across the country for taking part in the mob action at the Capitol as Congress convened in joint session to count electoral votes and certify President Joe Biden's win.
All five of the Florida defendants arrested Aug. 25 are self-identified members of the B Squad, a militia-style subgroup of the “Guardians of Freedom,” a Florida-based Three Percenter group, according to the news release.
Rockholt was wearing a tactical vest and baseball helmet and appeared to have a knife in his pocket during the conflict, according to the news release.
Rockholt and two of the other defendants — 50-year-old John Edward Crowley, of Windermere; and 20-year-old Tyler Bensch, of Casselbery — were arrested in Florida and had an initial court appearance Aug. 25. Defendant Brian Preller, a 33-year-old from Mount Dora, was arrested in Hardwick, Vermont; Benjamin Cole, a 38-year-old from Leesburg, was arrested in Louisville, Kentucky.
The five had traveled to D.C. together with other B Squad members and stayed at a hotel on Jan. 5.
Cole, Preller and Bensch, like Rockholt, were wearing tactical vests during the breach. Preller and Bensch both had chemical irritant spray containers attached to the front of their vests. Preller and Bensch wore helmets; Bensch had a gas mask. Preller, wearing a green helmet with the word "monster " written across it, and a T-shirt that said "waterboarding instructor," carried a long black walking stick.
Rockholt, Cole, Preller and Crowley entered the tunnel and helped other rioters in the “heave-ho” effort that pushed back the police line. Officers cleared them out of the tunnel, and Rockholt took a clear Capitol Police riot as he left.
Bensch, who'd stayed outside the tunnel, sprayed an unknown person in the face with his chemical irritant, although that person was not a threat to him, according to the news release.
Rockholt faces three charges: Interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.
The first charge is a felony. The other two are misdemeanors.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov, according to the news release.
