Yet another Pennsylvanian arrested for taking part in Jan. 6 insurrection

A Berks County man faces felony and misdemeanor charges for his part in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack at the US Capitol, bringing the total arrested in the commonwealth to 86.

A Douglassville man was arrested Thursday for his part in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol, bringing the total number of Pennsylvanians arrested for participating in the attack to 86.

Ian MacBride, 43, is being charged with a felony offense of obstruction of an official proceeding and misdemeanor offense of entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, theft of government property, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

According to court documents, MacBride allegedly scaled the northwest stairs of the Capitol building with other rioters and entered the building through the Senate wing door just five minutes after the initial breach. 

Upon entering the building, MacBride walked into a large, circular room known as the Crypt, where he joined other rioters amassing against a thin line of Capitol police officers blocking the crowd from breaching further into the Capitol. The crowd of rioters overran the line of officers, allowing them to fill the remainder of the room and access the Memorial Door staircase leading to the second floor of the Capitol where the Senate and House Chambers were located. MacBride was allegedly seen following the crowd into a doorway, and eventually, toward the Memorial Door staircase. Police officers then led MacBride and several other rioters east to the Memorial Doors, where MacBride exited the Capitol building.

MacBride allegedly stole a US Capitol Police sign that said “Area Closed,” according to court documents. He later made a post on a social media forum, stating, “Hung my Capitol battle flags and ill gotten ‘Area Closed’ sign up in my bar tonight.” In the days following the events of Jan. 6, MacBride  posted on a social media forum that, “I don’t regret my part in occupying the building.”

In the three years since the insurrection, more than 1,265 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the Capitol, including more than 440 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony.

To date, 52 Pennsylvanians have been sentenced, with others expected to be sentenced this month. Three died (two by suicide) while awaiting sentencing, and two others, a married couple, moved out of state before being sentenced.