A business owner in Waco who participated in the riot at the U.S. Capitol is now facing the long arm of the law.

According to a report from our new partners at KWTX, Christopher Grider, the owner of Kissing Tree Vineyards in Bruceville-Eddy, was arrested on January 21st. He's accused of aiding in the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.

“The president asked people to come and show their support, I feel like it’s the least that we could do, it’s kind of why I came from Central Texas and went all the way to D.C., he’s done a lot for the country and he asked this and I figured that’s something that I could do, so that’s why I went and showed up and showed support,” Grider told KWTX in a story that aired on the night of Jan. 6.

Grider surrendered to authorities after being named in warrant accusing him of knowingly and willingly entering the US Capitol along with fellow supporters of former president Donald Trump following his claims of election fraud. These claims led to the riot at the Capitol, even while there has been no credible evidence after a number of investigations.

Grider was seen in videos wearing a black puffy jacket, blue jeans, a blue mask over his mouth, and a yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” flag around his neck. According to an affidavit, you can see Grider aiding in the siege and assisting in destroying government property, clearly showing why he was named in an affidavit of criminal complaint and arrest warrant. Authorities say Grider first appears outside the Capitol building's southwest side, after which they say he's seen handing a black helmet to a a man who used it to break a glass window separating the crowd from the House chambers.

T. Brent Mayr, the attorney for Grider, asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower to reopen a detention hearing, but the request was ultimately denied and Grider was ordered transferred to Washington D.C. to be held until further proceedings. Grider and his attorney argue that Grider was attempting to leave the area after the shooting of Ashli Babbitt by a Capitol Police officer, and that additional footage not yet admitted to court would support this. The judge was not convinced.

While Mayr leaned heavily on Grider's community and church involvement, it was not nearly enough in light of the actions that Grider took part in at the Capitol that day to move the judge.

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