Former Supervisor Candidate Home Raided by FBI Following Capitol Insurrection

MADERA – Investigators with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the home of Hedrick Edward “Eddie” Block (44) Friday afternoon on the 900 block of East Cleveland Avenue in Madera. Block was one of the thousands of trespassers to enter the grounds of the United States Capitol Building while filming himself, beyond the established security barriers in Washington DC on January 6 of this year.

Agents notified the Madera County Sheriff’s Department before the noontime raid as a courtesy to local law enforcement, who were on hand as well as Madera Police to assist in the serving of the warrants. The FBI spent approximately four hours removing electronic devices and digital media owned by Block. According to Block even his cable box from Xfinity and cell phone were seized by the Federal officers. Block said in a podcast published following the raid that he believes over 25 officers were in his house during the service of the warrant.

Block, an admitted “Proud Boy”, filmed himself at the insurrection following a rally for former President Donald Trump, for which the Trump campaign issued Mr. Block, a “journalist”, and a press-pass but US Secret Service refused to release to him at the rally. In the video, Block is wearing a military-style flack jacket with a “PROUD BOYS” patch as well as a California and USA flag on the chest. At one point in the video, you can hear Block announce, “We are storming the Capital” as rioters are tearing down barricades and pushing past security and US Capitol Police.

Block, who was wheelchair-bound in the video said that his fellow "Proud Boys" helped carry him and his wheelchair to the upper decks of the Capitol’s outdoor balcony. Block said that he did not enter the Capitol building and he has shown no video of him within the walls of the US Capitol. Once the National Guard and more police entered the scene, Block was unable to remove himself from the balcony. Law enforcement offered to help him but he refused it. In leaving he did take a tumble near some stairs and police then helped him to return to his DC hotel.

Last year Block ran for an open seat on the Madera County Board of Supervisors. During the campaign, Block was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol following a night of drinking at a Madera Ranchos bar. As of today, Block has yet to be held to answer for that incident in the Madera County Superior Court, nor has the bar that continued to serve Block long after he was legally drunk. Block was crushed in the election by the now Madera County Supervisor Leticia Gonzalez.

During Blocks podcast last night on YouTube - Eddie Block Films, the “Proud Boys” member claims the FBI told him that he was not under arrest and law enforcement only wanted his videos and equipment. He said one of the officers want to take his dog. He told his audience of over 2000 that had the FBI tried to take his dog, he had a 12-gauge shotgun. He also complained that Madera Mayor Santos Garcia showed up at the scene and took pictures of the raid and Block standing outside in the rain. He referred to Santos as Madera’s communist mayor and wondered if he could sue the city for the mayor posting the photos on Facebook.

During the raid, the FBI seized Block's phone and computer. Block told supporters that he spent his last dime to buy a new iPhone so he could continue his podcast and he would be looking for a new computer this weekend. During the podcast supporters watching online contributed to his online accounts over $200. Block is seen nightly on his YouTube podcast that runs from one to seven hours long and has over 8000 subscribers.