Washington DC: An individual was apprehended by the FBI in Pennsylvania on Wednesday and faced a range of serious charges following an incident on January 6.
Prosecutors presented evidence from police-worn body cameras and publicly available footage, which depicted the individual engaging in aggressive behavior toward officers at the U.S. Capitol. The individual was seen using various objects, including metal and wooden poles, an officer’s helmet, and later, a riot shield, to strike and stab at the officers.
The man, Joshua Atwood, 31, recently appeared in a federal court room in Pennsylvania’s Western District. He is facing several serious charges, including felony civil disorder and various counts of assaulting or impeding officers, as well as entering and remaining in a restricted building with a weapon.
Additionally, he is accused of engaging in disorderly and disruptive conduct with a deadly weapon, as well as committing an act of physical violence in a restricted building.
He is also charged with a number of misdemeanors including disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds; act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
According to a partially redacted statement of facts, Atwood was initially brought to the attention of the police when a tipster recognized them from a 2011 mug shot. His forehead bore a noticeable scar on the left side, revealing his identity. In a surprising turn of events, Atwood found himself in legal trouble last May.
He was arrested for robbery and malicious assault in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. The arrest caught the attention of a diligent patrolman who reviewed footage from January 6 and made a crucial connection. This led to the FBI being alerted about the situation.
A Burgettstown resident allegedly engaged in a violent rampage on January 6, targeting law enforcement officers who were protecting the Capitol.
Atwood allegedly struck two Metropolitan Police Department officers, then proceeded to forcefully thrust the pole at another officer, ultimately striking their helmet and face plate.
