WASHINGTON — The FBI said two tipsters, live coverage, Facebook messages and surveillance video confirm a Jefferson County man was among the rioters who broke into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Joshua David Dressel, who lives just west of Festus, appeared in federal court via video feed Tuesday afternoon for the first time on charges related to the violence that happened in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6.
Dressel was charged with the following counts:
- Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority
- Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds
- Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct on Capitol Grounds
- Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
All four counts are misdemeanor charges.
Charging documents obtained Thursday by 5 On Your Side detail the case made by the FBI. A special agent said they talked with two tipsters. The first person sent a screengrab and news coverage video the day after the riot. The tipster said they recognized Dressel by his facial expressions, body language and clothes.
They also said they saw a livestream video on Dressel’s Facebook page that appeared to show him inside the Capitol. The video had been taken down by the time the agent interviewed the tipster.
The FBI pulled up video from several security cameras inside the Capitol that also appeared to show Dressel inside various areas of the building.
The agent then talked with a second person who has known Dressel for years and showed them photos from the security video. That tipster identified Dressel with “100% certainty” and gave investigators a cell phone number for him.
That led the FBI agent to obtain a search warrant to go through Dressel’s Facebook account, which had been deleted in February. The account showed three logins between Dec. 20 and Jan. 15, including one in Landmark, Virginia, which is just outside D.C.
The charging documents also state Dressel’s Facebook account revealed messages sent between him and an unidentified person, where they discussed Dressel being part of the group of people who went into the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Further mapping data from two cell phones pinpointed him to the area in and around the Capitol on Jan. 6.
The initial court hearing Tuesday was meant to ensure Dressel understood the charges he’s facing. When asked whether he did, he replied “I do.” Dressel did not enter a plea. He was released from custody under several conditions, including restricting travel to the Eastern District of Missouri.
Dressel's case will continue in Washington. 5 On Your Side has contacted federal court officials for documents related to this case. We have not yet heard back.
Dressel is the fifth person from the St. Louis area charged in connection with the Capitol riots.
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Nicholas Burton Reimler, from Cedar Hill in Jefferson County, was arraigned in February on counts of violent entry or disorderly conduct and entry of a restricted government building. Both of those counts are misdemeanors.
Earlier this year, charges were announced against William Merry and Paul Westover.
Westover’s Lake St. Louis home was the scene of an FBI investigation, where agents were seen collecting evidence they said was in connection with the riots. He was identified in a viral video by St. Louis social media users. He was seen inside the Capitol holding up part of a broken sign from House Speak Nancy Pelosi’s office. Westover was wearing a Blues hat in the video.
Westover faces several federal charges:
- Obstruct, impede or interfere with law enforcement officer (aiding and abetting)
- Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds
- Disorderly conduct which impedes the conduct of government business
- Disruptive conduct in the Capitol buildings
Merry also was seen in the viral video holding the sign. Court documents include still photos that appear to show Merry holding the sign up and carrying it through a crowd. The documents also reveal he is the maternal uncle of Emily Hernandez, the 21-year-old woman from Sullivan arrested last month for her role in the day's events. She is seen in the photos and video wearing sunglasses.
Merry faces the following charges:
- theft of government property
- knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds
- disorderly conduct which impedes the conduct of government business
- disruptive conduct in the Capitol building
Hernandez faces the following charges:
- Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds
- Disorderly conduct which impedes the conduct of government business
- Steal, sell, convey or dispose of anything of value in the United States
- Disruptive conduct in the Capitol buildings
- Parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol buildings
Hernandez, Merry and Westover were released and their cases will continue in Washington, D.C. courts.