Two people from Ohio and Kentucky were charged this week for allegedly joining the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and entering the building.Federal officials said David Mehaffie, 62, from Kettering, has been charged with federal offenses that include assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, obstruction of an official proceeding and civil disorder, among other charges. Mehaffie was arrested on Aug. 13 and made his initial court appearance in Southern District of Ohio the same day.According to court documents, Mehaffie was part of a crowd on the lower west terrace of the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6. In video obtained by law enforcement, Mehaffie can be seen walking up the exterior terrace stairs and into the tunnel as part of the first group of individuals to attempt to breach the Capitol through that entrance. In the video footage, Mehaffie is seen around 2:42 p.m. standing outside the first set of double doors repeatedly using his fist to pound on the unbroken glass. Moments later, another rioter uses a makeshift weapon to break the glass window out of the door that Mehaffie was pounding. Mehaffie was the first to walk through the first set of doors and open a second set of doors where U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department officers had formed a human barricade to protect the entrance from being breached. As Mehaffie held the door open, other rioters began attacking the USCP and MPD officers with their hands and makeshift weapons, including flag poles.At 2:51 p.m., Mehaffie exited the tunnel and climbed up on a raised platform at the tunnel entrance a minute later. As alleged, he stood above the crowd of rioters for approximately 26 minutes and helped to coordinate the mob's actions by attempting to organize and direct individuals in and around the tunnel. Security footage captured him repeatedly using his arms to direct the mob and helping members of the crowd as they passed items back and forth in the tunnel including riot shields stolen from law enforcement. Open-source video captured Mehaffie shouting, "If you are going in, get on this side!" while pointing to the right side of the tunnel. He additionally directed rioters to "push, push!"At approximately 3:18 p.m., law enforcement successfully pushed the mob back out of the tunnel and onto the terrace. Mehaffie remained in the elevated position and physically resisted the officers' efforts to move him. Mehaffie finally stepped down on to the terrace after multiple attempts by officers.The FBI also arrested a Kentucky man Tuesday for allegedly joining the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and entering the building.The FBI of Louisville said agents arrested Joseph Irwin of Cecilia without incident. Cecilia is in Hardin County about 50 miles south of Louisville.Irwin has been charged with unlawful entry and disorderly conduct in a restricted building and disorderly conduct and parading/demonstrating in the Capitol building. In the seven months since Jan. 6, more than 570 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 170 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Two people from Ohio and Kentucky were charged this week for allegedly joining the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and entering the building.
Federal officials said David Mehaffie, 62, from Kettering, has been charged with federal offenses that include assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, obstruction of an official proceeding and civil disorder, among other charges.
Mehaffie was arrested on Aug. 13 and made his initial court appearance in Southern District of Ohio the same day.
According to court documents, Mehaffie was part of a crowd on the lower west terrace of the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6. In video obtained by law enforcement, Mehaffie can be seen walking up the exterior terrace stairs and into the tunnel as part of the first group of individuals to attempt to breach the Capitol through that entrance.
In the video footage, Mehaffie is seen around 2:42 p.m. standing outside the first set of double doors repeatedly using his fist to pound on the unbroken glass. Moments later, another rioter uses a makeshift weapon to break the glass window out of the door that Mehaffie was pounding. Mehaffie was the first to walk through the first set of doors and open a second set of doors where U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department officers had formed a human barricade to protect the entrance from being breached. As Mehaffie held the door open, other rioters began attacking the USCP and MPD officers with their hands and makeshift weapons, including flag poles.
At 2:51 p.m., Mehaffie exited the tunnel and climbed up on a raised platform at the tunnel entrance a minute later. As alleged, he stood above the crowd of rioters for approximately 26 minutes and helped to coordinate the mob's actions by attempting to organize and direct individuals in and around the tunnel. Security footage captured him repeatedly using his arms to direct the mob and helping members of the crowd as they passed items back and forth in the tunnel including riot shields stolen from law enforcement. Open-source video captured Mehaffie shouting, "If you are going in, get on this side!" while pointing to the right side of the tunnel. He additionally directed rioters to "push, push!"
At approximately 3:18 p.m., law enforcement successfully pushed the mob back out of the tunnel and onto the terrace. Mehaffie remained in the elevated position and physically resisted the officers' efforts to move him. Mehaffie finally stepped down on to the terrace after multiple attempts by officers.
The FBI also arrested a Kentucky man Tuesday for allegedly joining the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and entering the building.
The FBI of Louisville said agents arrested Joseph Irwin of Cecilia without incident. Cecilia is in Hardin County about 50 miles south of Louisville.
Irwin has been charged with unlawful entry and disorderly conduct in a restricted building and disorderly conduct and parading/demonstrating in the Capitol building.
In the seven months since Jan. 6, more than 570 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 170 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
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