Bucks County man charged in insurrection: “Just pray … that I don’t get arrested by the fbi.”

Another Bucks County man was arrested Friday for allegedly entering the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6.

Federal agents identified Leonard P. Ridge, of Feasterville, through a number of social media posts he made on and after the capitol insurrection, arrest records posted online show.

“Just pray for me that I don’t get arrested by the fbi (sic),” Ridge, 19, is said to have written in a Snapchat conversation on Jan. 7.

Ridge now faces federal charges, including obstructing an official proceeding, entering and remaining in restricted building and grounds and disorderly conduct.

An unnamed witness tipped off authorities two days after the insurrection saying they received a video posted on Ridge’s Snapchat.

That person said a second witness, who knew Ridge from high school, sent them the video Ridge made, according to court documents.

The video is a collection of posts, or snaps, chronicling Ridge’s alleged trip into and through the Rotunda.

“TEAR GAS,” one post says, showing what appears to be a crowd outside the Capitol Building, authorities said in an affidavit.

The image is followed by a video that appears to show a group of people walking up the steps as a voice is heard yelling “let’s go, let’s go. Get in this B—.”

“America first B—,” the voice shouts again in another of a series of videos showing people inside the Capitol Rotunda.

Ridge then allegedly began filming a “selfie” style video saying, “Currently making history.”

The blond-haired man wearing a tan jacket and black t-shirt would later be identified as Ridge by multiple witnesses interviewed by the FBI.

In addition to the first two witnesses, a third person contacted the FBI tip line on Jan. 30 referring to the same Snapchat video posted by the user “PEARCE_RIDGEZ.”

Investigators obtained geolocation data and copies of posts made under the account provided by Snapchat’s company, Snap Inc, in February.

Through those records, authorities also obtained chat records from late December between Ridge’s alleged account and other users saying the election was “stolen” and that “something really big will happen in this nation very soon.”

The chat continues on Jan. 6, with another person calling Ridge a “legend” and then asking if he was OK after learning “someone just got shot in the neck.”

The other person in the conversation was referencing the fatal shooting of Ashli E. Babbitt, 35, who was killed while attempting to breach a cordoned off hallway in the building.

Babbitt was one of five people who died as a result of the Capitol riots.

“I saw it. Yeah f—ing nuts. I just made history,” Ridge allegedly wrote back.

Ridge also  claims he had video of him “fighting riot police” inside the Capitol building, according to court documents.

“I hate to say it but like the time for us to fight is here,” Ridge allegedly wrote on Jan. 10, after the second person in the chat commented on public backlash against Republicans.

A review of state voter registration data by this news organization shows Ridge has been registered Republican who voted in-person for the 2020 election.

The affidavit does not refer to any interviews with Ridge prior to his arrest last week, only interviews with the unnamed witnesses in the months prior to his arrest.

Ridge is the fifth Bucks County resident to face federal charges for the Jan. 6 riots.

Gary Edwards, 68, of Northampton, was arrested on May 4 after authorities investigated a tip about Facebook posts made by Edward’s wife defending his involvement in the riots.

Those posts had since been deleted.

Dawn Bancroft, owner of Cross Fit Sine-Pari on Easton Road in Plumstead, and Diana Santos-Smith, who is also from Pennsylvania, were arrested on Jan. 29 for allegedly storming the Capitol.

Raechel Genco, 38, of Bristol Borough, faces federal charges for passing through barricades on Jan. 6. Genco was with Ryan Samsel, of Bristol, who is accused of fighting with officers while attempting to remove police barricades outside the Capitol.

With this latest charge, Bucks County might be in a three-way tie for most cases out of a single county in the country, according to data from George Washington University.

Los Angeles, California, and Franklin, Ohio, both had six arrests as of April, the most in the nation at that time. Four arrests in both Bucks and Brevard County, Florida, were the second highest so far last month.

Ridge’s arrest comes just days after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to establish a bipartisan commission investigating the Jan. 6 attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

The bill creating the commission passed a 252-175 vote on May 20. Middletown Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick joined 34 other Republicans supporting the bill last week.

“As a lifelong federal law enforcement agent and federal prosecutor, watching the horrific events of that day unfold, I was especially troubled by the explicitly clear breakdown in security coordination, anticipation, and communication that allowed such a breach of the People’s House to occur,” said Fitzpatrick, who previously worked for the FBI

The bill is now in the Senate awaiting a vote.

Another Bucks County man was arrested Friday for allegedly entering the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6.Federal agents identified Leonard P. Ridge, of Feasterville, through a number of social media posts he made on and after the capitol insurrection, arrest records posted online show.“Just pray for me that I don’t get arrested by the fbi (sic),” Ridge, 19, is said to have written in a Snapchat conversation on Jan. 7.Ridge now faces federal charges, including obstructing an official proceeding, entering and remaining in restricted building and grounds and disorderly conduct.An unnamed witness tipped off authorities two days after the insurrection saying they received a video posted on Ridge’s Snapchat.That person said a second witness, who knew Ridge from high school, sent them the video Ridge made, according to court documents.The video is a collection of posts, or snaps, chronicling Ridge’s alleged trip into and through the Rotunda.“TEAR GAS,” one post says, showing what appears to be a crowd outside the Capitol Building, authorities said in an affidavit.The image is followed by a video that appears to show a group of people walking up the steps as a voice is heard yelling “let’s go, let’s go. Get in this B—.”“America first B—,” the voice shouts again in another of a series of videos showing people inside the Capitol Rotunda.Ridge then allegedly began filming a “selfie” style video saying, “Currently making history.”The blond-haired man wearing a tan jacket and black t-shirt would later be identified as Ridge by multiple witnesses interviewed by the FBI.In addition to the first two witnesses, a third person contacted the FBI tip line on Jan. 30 referring to the same Snapchat video posted by the user “PEARCE_RIDGEZ.”Investigators obtained geolocation data and copies of posts made under the account provided by Snapchat’s company, Snap Inc, in February.Through those records, authorities also obtained chat records from late December between Ridge’s alleged account and other users saying the election was “stolen” and that “something really big will happen in this nation very soon.”The chat continues on Jan. 6, with another person calling Ridge a “legend” and then asking if he was OK after learning “someone just got shot in the neck.”The other person in the conversation was referencing the fatal shooting of Ashli E. Babbitt, 35, who was killed while attempting to breach a cordoned off hallway in the building.Babbitt was one of five people who died as a result of the Capitol riots.“I saw it. Yeah f—ing nuts. I just made history,” Ridge allegedly wrote back.Ridge also  claims he had video of him “fighting riot police” inside the Capitol building, according to court documents.“I hate to say it but like the time for us to fight is here,” Ridge allegedly wrote on Jan. 10, after the second person in the chat commented on public backlash against Republicans.A review of state voter registration data by this news organization shows Ridge has been registered Republican who voted in-person for the 2020 election.The affidavit does not refer to any interviews with Ridge prior to his arrest last week, only interviews with the unnamed witnesses in the months prior to his arrest.Ridge is the fifth Bucks County resident to face federal charges for the Jan. 6 riots.Gary Edwards, 68, of Northampton, was arrested on May 4 after authorities investigated a tip about Facebook posts made by Edward’s wife defending his involvement in the riots.Those posts had since been deleted.Dawn Bancroft, owner of Cross Fit Sine-Pari on Easton Road in Plumstead, and Diana Santos-Smith, who is also from Pennsylvania, were arrested on Jan. 29 for allegedly storming the Capitol.Raechel Genco, 38, of Bristol Borough, faces federal charges for passing through barricades on Jan. 6. Genco was with Ryan Samsel, of Bristol, who is accused of fighting with officers while attempting to remove police barricades outside the Capitol.With this latest charge, Bucks County might be in a three-way tie for most cases out of a single county in the country, according to data from George Washington University.The university has been tracking Capitol riot arrests as part of an extremism monitoring project.Los Angeles, California, and Franklin, Ohio, both had six arrests as of April, the most in the nation at that time. Four arrests in both Bucks and Brevard County, Florida, were the second highest so far last month.Ridge’s arrest comes just days after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to establish a bipartisan commission investigating the Jan. 6 attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump.The bill creating the commission passed a 252-175 vote on May 20. Middletown Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick joined 34 other Republicans supporting the bill last week.“As a lifelong federal law enforcement agent and federal prosecutor, watching the horrific events of that day unfold, I was especially troubled by the explicitly clear breakdown in security coordination, anticipation, and communication that allowed such a breach of the People’s House to occur,” said Fitzpatrick, who previously worked for the FBIThe bill is now in the Senate awaiting a vote.