Kyle Mlynarek, Ronald Balhorn Arrested for Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Crimes

Two Michigan men are facing federal felony charges for their violent roles in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, during which they allegedly attacked police and stormed the building amid chaos. Kyle Mlynarek, 27, of Redford, Michigan, and Ronald Balhorn, 53, of Garden City, Michigan, were arrested today in their hometowns and are set to appear in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan. Both are charged with interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder — a felony that carries years in prison.

Mlynarek is charged with interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. Balhorn faces the same core charge but with enhancements — he’s accused of carrying a dangerous weapon: a wooden club or stick. He is charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building with a dangerous weapon and engaging in disorderly conduct with that weapon. The distinction could mean significantly harsher penalties if convicted.

According to court documents, the men were part of a violent mob that massed on the Northwest lawn of the Capitol grounds around 2:00 p.m. on January 6. They allegedly joined a group of rioters who physically pushed against law enforcement officers attempting to respond to the Lower West Terrace breach. Video evidence and witness accounts place both Mlynarek and Balhorn in the thick of the confrontation, actively resisting police efforts to contain the insurrection.

After the clash, they moved to the Upper North Terrace, where they reportedly had a physical altercation with a U.S. Capitol Police officer. From there, they advanced to the West side of the terrace and entered the Capitol building shortly after the initial breach. They remained inside for nearly 30 minutes — long enough for Mlynarek to post photos of the pair inside the structure on social media, flaunting their illegal presence.

The 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, with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. The FBI’s Detroit and Washington Field Offices are leading the investigation, aided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department. The arrests come amid an ongoing nationwide dragnet, with more than 950 individuals apprehended in nearly every state since the attack.

Of those arrested, over 284 have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement — a number that continues to climb. The Justice Department emphasizes the investigation remains active. Anyone with information is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.