Rathdrum man arrested for alleged role in January 6 riots

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho – A federal judge has issued an arrest warrant for a Rathdrum man allegedly involved in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots. The man was later arrested in Coeur d'Alene.

According to District of Columbia court documents, Ronald J. Cloutier of Rathdrum is accused of violating federal law by entering a “restricted building” with the intent to obstruct the government process.

FBI investigators said they found a photo of Cloutier taken by a United Press International (UPI) photographer and filed under the headline “Supporters listen as U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivers speech to gathered supporters to protest Congress' upcoming certification of Joe Biden as president. next president on the Ellipse in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021.”

In the photo, Cloutier stands among a crowd of people during former President Donald Trump's speech, encouraging the crowd to “go to the U.S. Capitol and protest the results of the U.S. presidential election,” according to documents judicial.

Court documents also say other images show Cloutier walking on Constitution Avenue toward the U.S. Capitol, as well as a video/photo of him outside the building in the “restricted area” and a photo of him entering the Senate wing of the building.

Court documents also revealed that Google records indicate that a mobile device associated with Cloutier's email address was present outside the gates of the U.S. Capitol and Senate wing.

The court document states that FBI investigators met with former colleagues of Cloutier, who confirmed that the man in the photos and videos was indeed Cloutier. They added that Cloutier also wears the same hat and glasses found in the video to work.

The arrest warrant was filed on May 31 and returned on June 3. Cloutier made an initial appearance in federal court in Coeur d'Alene on June 3, where he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Violations are punishable by up to one year in prison, supervised release, five years of probation and a $10,000 fine.

FOX28 Spokane©