A Bristol Borough man was arrested by authorities over the weekend for his alleged role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
According to federal court documents unsealed Monday morning, Ryan Stephen Samsel, 37, was charged with forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with a federal agent while they were engaged in their official duties; committed or attempted to commit any act to obstruct, impede, or interfere with any fireman or law enforcement officer lawfully engaged in the lawful performance of official duties; and obstructed, influenced, or impeded any official proceeding or attempted to do so.
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An FBI special agent wrote in a criminal complaint that an investigation found that Samsel approached barricades around the U.S. Capitol, where the confirmation on Joe Biden’s election win was being finalized by a joint session of Congress, on January 6 with others. Samsel allegedly “immediately” became confrontational with U.S. Capitol Police working to secure the complex. Samsel and others were reported to have began pushing on barricades.
At that time, Samsel removed his jacket and turned what appeared to be a Make America Great Again hat backwards “in a manner that appears as if Samsel was preparing for a physical altercation,” court papers stated.
Per federal authorities, Samsel and others knocked a U.S. Capitol Police officer to the ground and she struck her head on outdoor stairs and lost consciousness. Samsel picked up the injured officer and reportedly said: “We don’t have to hurt you. Why are you standing in our way?”
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The injured officer retreated to the Capitol building and later blacked out and collapsed due to the injuries from earlier. She was hospitalized with a concussion, court papers stated.
Samsel and others made their way closer to the West Terrace of the Capitol building, which was closed to the public. Samsel attempted to pull a riot shield from a police officer, authorities said.
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FBI investigators were able to identify Samsel from the attack on officers and the Capitol complex. They were able to uncover videos that showed the Bristol Borough man breaking federal law, according to court papers.
Samsel, who lives with his aunt and uncle, was found to have an assault-related warrant out from Riverside, New Jersey and he was on state parole in Pennsylvania, authorities said.
Working with parole agents, the FBI was able to obtain Samsel’s Bristol Borough address.
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Last week, a federal judge in Washington D.C. approved a search warrant for Samsel’s cell phone. Data recovered showed Samsel’s phone traveled from Levittown to the Washington D.C. area on January 6, authorities said.
Samsel was collared by the FBI’s Bucks-Mont Safe Streets Task Force early Saturday morning in Bristol Township, an agency spokesperson said. The task force is made up of FBI agents and local police.
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LevittownNow.com broke the news last month that FBI agents had been in Bucks County speaking to several people about the insurrection.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
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