Two suspects accused of assaulting Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick have been arrested, law enforcement authorities confirmed Monday (March 15). The officer reportedly died following the Jan. 6 break-in at the Capitol, although the cause of his death has not yet been released to the public.
Julian Elie Khater, 32, of Penn State University, and George Pierre Tanios, 39, of Morgantown, West Virginia, were taken into custody Sunday (March 14), according to a Justice Department news release.
The Justice Department says they are accused of conspiring to harm police officers and assault federal officials during the Jan. 6 incident at the Capitol. Hartel was arrested after getting off a plane at Newark Airport in New Jersey, while Tanios was arrested at his Home in West Virginia.
According to officials, the men are each charged with one count of conspiracy to injure a police officer, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon on a federal officer, one count of civil disorderly conduct, one count of obstructing or impeding an official proceeding, and one count of physical violence with a dangerous weapon in a restricted area causing great bodily injury, as well as several other counts.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 2, 2021, to pay their respects to Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died after allegedly being injured in the Jan. 6 incident at the Capitol. The officer’s remains were interred the next day and then buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice news release, video footage from Jan. 6 shows Hartel and Tanios “working together” to plan an attack on law enforcement officers and spraying them in the eyes and face with “an unknown chemical substance.
The U.S. Department of Justice revealed that Siknik and two other officers “were standing a few feet away from Hartel. After being sprayed in the face with the substance, each had a reaction. “The officers had to pull back, put their hands over their faces and rush to find water to wash their eyes.”
Officials also said video footage was obtained showing Hartl allegedly yelling at Tanios, “Give me that bear (expletive)!” He was likely referring to bear spray – a chemical irritant similar to pepper spray. Tanios then replied, “Wait a minute, wait a minute, it’s not …… early yet.”
According to video footage cited by the Justice Department, Hartel can then be seen taking a canister out of Tanyos’ backpack and spraying it at the officers.
Court records also show that authorities searched Tanios’ house in West Virginia over the weekend.
Tarnos’ sister, Maria Butros, told The Washington Post on Monday that her brother “was arrested on trumped-up charges. She said, “He didn’t do it. He would never do that.”
So far, neither the Capitol Police nor the FBI have released the cause of death of Officer Siknik. His mother, Gladys Sicknick, told the Daily Mail last month that they believe Sicknick may have suffered a stroke and dismissed reports in the New York Times and other media outlets that Sicknick was killed by protesters with a fire extinguisher. The New York Times later updated the story, saying the cause of his death was unclear.
Capitol police said after the incident that Siknik “was injured during physical contact with protesters” and collapsed after returning to his office. Then-Acting Attorney General Jeffrey a. Rosen said in a statement that the officer died from “injuries he sustained while defending the U.S. Capitol. Neither man mentioned the bear spray.
On March 2, FBI Director Christopher Wray told lawmakers that the agency “cannot disclose” the cause of Siknik’s death. When pressed by a senator on whether the FBI had determined the cause of his death, Wray said, “I didn’t say that.” And again, the FBI cannot reveal the cause of death.
So far, more than 300 people have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 break-in at the Capitol. Prosecutors said in court last week that more than a hundred more people are expected to be indicted.
It’s unclear whether Hartel or Tanios have defense attorneys.
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