KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Gardner man linked to the Kansas City metro chapter of the Proud Boys is now facing charges in relation to the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
The FBI took Ryan Keith Ashlock into custody without incident Monday morning. He has been federally charged with conspiracy, obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, obstruction of justice/Congress, and knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority.
Court documents say Ashlock conspired with five other members of the Proud Boys, three of which are Kansas City metro residents, who have already been charged in the riots.
Ashlock traveled to the riots with other Proud Boy members, marched with them to the Capitol, and helped knock down metal barricades between police and protesters outside the Capitol, according to the affidavit. He separated from the group when police pepper-sprayed him, and it was unclear if Ashlock entered the Capitol, the FBI said.
He also wore tactical gear and had florescent orange tape on his clothing, which federal authorities say indicates membership in the Proud Boys.
The FBI said Ashlock admitted to investigators during an interview on Feb. 11 that he was at the Capitol and coordinated with other members of the Proud Boys. He told investigators he left the grounds after he was hit with pepper spray.
“However (Ashlock) ultimately denied that his actions were criminal,” the affidavit reads.
He is one of several Kansas and Missouri residents, and dozens across the U.S. to be charged in the violence at the Capitol last month while Congress was meeting to certify Democrat Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential race.
Three others in the Kansas City metro are also facing charges — William Chrestman, of Olathe; Christopher Kuehne, of Olathe; and Louis Colon, of Blue Springs.
Felicia and Cory Konold, who live in the Tucson, Arizona, area, also were charged with conspiring with the Kansas City chapter of the Proud Boys to interfere with police during the riot.
