Man Charged With Obstructing Law Enforcement During Riot

GAINESVILLE, GA — Two men have been charged with crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Ronald Loehrke, 30, of Gainesville, Georgia, is charged with civil disorder, among other charges. Loehrke was arrested Dec. 3 in Cumming, and made his initial court appearance that day in the Northern District of Georgia.

James Haffner, 53, of South Dakota, is charged in the same complaint with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, civil disorder, and other offenses. Haffner was arrested on Dec. 1 in South Dakota, and made his initial court appearance later that day in the District of South Dakota.

Both were released pending further proceedings.

According to court documents, as of Jan. 6, Loehrke was living near Seattle. Prior to Jan. 6, the court documents show he texted with Ethan Nordean, also of Seattle, a member of the Proud Boys organization who is charged separately in relation to the events of Jan. 6. In one text, Nordean told Loehrke that he wanted him on “the front line” with him. Loehrke responded with “Sounds good man,” and said he would bring others with him.

In the early afternoon of Jan. 6, Loehrke and Haffner marched with a group along Constitution Avenue NW, toward the U.S. Capitol. Nordean was at the front of the group. Shortly after 1 p.m., Loehrke and Haffner joined a crowd that had overwhelmed a pedestrian gate and advanced toward the Capitol building, dismantling barricades along the way. Both were among the first to get past various barricades on the west side of the Capitol building. At one point, Loehrke shouted, “Don’t back down, patriots,” police documents show.

Loehrke and Haffner moved to the east side of the Capitol and participated in dismantling and moving police barricades. Both men then climbed the stairs on the Capitol’s east side and headed to the Columbus Doors. Once inside, Loehrke is seen on video and photos in a confrontation with police and also inside a Senate office.

In the 10 months since Jan. 6, more than 675 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 210 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

At least 15 Georgians have been arrested in connection with the insurrection.

Read a complete list of all defendants connected to the Jan. 6 insurrection compiled by the U.S. Department of Justice.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of South Dakota and the Northern District of Georgia.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Rapid City, South Dakota Resident Agency of the Minneapolis Field Office, and the Gainesville Resident Agency of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office, with assistance from the Baton Rouge Resident Agency of the New Orleans Field Office, and the New Orleans Field Office.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov.

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