Federal investigators used GPS data to identify a Texas man suspected of participating in the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol building, according to a criminal complaint.
The man, Kevin Sam Blakely of McKinney, faces charges of entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
A crowd of supporters of then President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in January in protest against the Electoral College vote claiming President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the November election. Five people died, including police officer Brian Sicknick, who authorities believe has inhaled a spray irritant, such as bear spray.
Two men were arrested and charged with assaulting Sicknick, who died a day after the riots.
The criminal complaint, which was filed on Friday and obtained by NBC Dallas-Forth Worth, says that federal investigators handed Google a search warrant and obtained information from a cell phone associated with Blakely. Using GPS data, Wi-Fi hotspots and Bluetooth technology, authorities were able to link him to the riots.
The cell phone number had a Dallas area code, and a public Facebook page also linked Blakely to Texas. Videos of the rebellion showed a man appearing to be Blakely inside the Capitol, according to the complaint.
In the video, the man is wearing the same sweatshirt that Blakely wore in a Facebook photo, court documents say.
Authorities said there was “probable cause” for Blakely to have committed the crimes he is accused of. He is not accused of participating in the violence in the riot. It was not clear on Saturday whether Blakely got a lawyer.
