Colorado Springs man arrested for alleged role in Jan. 6 riot
Authorities arrested a Colorado man Thursday, who prosecutors say was part of a group of rioters who violently pushed against officers desperately trying to defend the Capitol from the angry mob in a tunnel.
Jonathan Grace, of Colorado Springs, faces charges including felony civil disorder. The 49-year-old is supposed to appear in court on Thursday in Denver. No attorney was immediately listed for him in court records.
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Surveillance video shows Grace entering a tunnel where officers were lined up as they tried to beat back the mob. Grace can be seen putting his head down and using his body to push in unison with other rioters against the police line, authorities say. As the rioters pushed, one of officers screamed in pain while being crushed between a shield and a door frame in one of the most harrowing scenes from the riot, according to court documents.
After officers at one point managed to clear rioters out of the tunnel, Grace watched as other rioters dragged a D.C. police officer out of the tunnel and brutally attacked him, authorities say. He then re-joined the rioters pushing against the police line and retreated only after officers sprayed a chemical irritant at the crowd, according to court documents.
He joins roughly 1,000 people who have been charged with federal crimes in the riot that halted the certification of President Joe Biden's victory and left dozens of police officers injured. All of the cases are being prosecuted in Washington D.C.'s federal court and authorities continue to make new arrests practically every week.
More than 540 defendants have pleaded guilty. Dozens more have been convicted by judges or juries after trials. More than 440 have been sentenced, with over half getting terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years.
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press
