January 6, 2020, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Ken, a witness, says he was spooked to hear someone shouting for protesters to enter Congress. (Courtesy of Ken)
U.S. law enforcement on Friday (Jan. 8) released more details about the four people involved in federal charges in connection with the Capitol Hill riots and attacks that took place on Wednesday (Jan. 6).
A senior U.S. Justice Department official said Friday that a photo that went viral online showed Richard Barnett sitting in the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) with one leg on his desk, Foxnews reported. He was later taken into custody by law enforcement in Little Rock, Arkansas.
After the incident, Barnett told Arkansas’ KFSM-TV that he was looking for a restroom and later saw the door to Pelosi’s office open.
The newspaper quoted him as saying, “I was sitting at my desk. I’m a taxpayer. I’m a patriot. That’s not her deskーーwe lent her that desk.” “She didn’t like the desk, so I thought, I should sit down and enjoy the desk.”
He was charged with violent trespassing and theft of public property, among other crimes. It was previously reported that he took a letter from Pelosi’s office.
A second suspect, Lonnie Coffman, was found to be in possession of two handguns, an assault rifle and 11 incendiary bombs. A local Alabama news site (AL.com) confirmed that the suspect is 70 years old.
Coffman, of Falkville, Alabama, was identified after police linked him to a suspicious red GMC pickup truck with Alabama license plates.
Also charged is Mark Leffingwell, who is accused of intentionally entering a restricted area and assaulting an officer after entering the Capitol. Court documents released Thursday (Jan. 7) in connection with his arrest show that Leffingwell repeatedly punched a U.S. Capitol police officer in the helmet and chest.
A fourth person, Maryland native Christopher Michael Alberts, is accused of illegally entering the Capitol with a loaded 9mm Taurus pistol and a loaded magazine. Court documents show that the Capitol Police (USCP) said Alberts, who was wearing a bulletproof undershirt, also “attempted to flee immediately” before being taken into police custody. He also allegedly had a small folding knife at the time.
Court documents show that Alberts told police he had the gun “for his own protection and did not intend to use it to harm anyone.
Law enforcement officials have previously announced that 82 arrests have been made at the state, local and federal levels, according to the report.
The FBI’s Washington, D.C., office released 40 photos Friday morning of wanted suspects in connection with Wednesday’s congressional disturbances.
The Washington, D.C., police said Friday morning that law enforcement agencies have received about 17,000 tips since releasing photos of people wanted in connection with Wednesday’s “riots.
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