FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 30, 2023
Michigan Man Arrested on Felony and Misdemeanor Charges For Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach
Defendant Assaulted Law Enforcement with Flagpole
WASHINGTON — A Michigan man has been arrested on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer, for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Jeremy Rodgers, 28, of Midland, Michigan, is charged with felony offenses: assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and act of physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Rodgers is also charged with misdemeanor offenses of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, act of physical violence in a Capitol building or on Capitol grounds, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
Rodgers was arrested in Orlando, Florida, and will make his initial appearance today in the Middle District of Florida.
According to court documents, authorities identified a man, later determined to be Rodgers, from video and surveillance footage on Jan. 6, 2021, assaulting a law enforcement officer with a flagpole. Court documents state that on January 6th, Rodgers, carrying a blue flag attached to a wooden flagpole, approached a line of law enforcement officers guarding the entrance to the East Rotunda Door and then used his flagpole as a weapon, audibly striking a United States Capitol Police (USCP) Officer three times on the helmet. Court documents say that shortly after, Rodgers again struck down the flagpole twice more in the direction of the officers.
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Court records allege that Rodgers is believed to have attempted to use his flagpole to prevent officers from closing the East Rotunda Door and entered the Capitol building through that door at approximately 2:26 p.m. Once inside the building, court documents allege that Rodgers walked toward Statuary Hall and the House side of the building and was observed removing a railing blocking the path of the crowd behind him, stating, “come on in.” Court documents state that Rodgers then stood aside and shouted “USA, USA” while waving people toward the House Chambers.
According to court documents, Rodgers then joined a crowd of rioters that pushed through a police line guarding the entrance to the House of Representatives Chambers and spent several minutes outside the entrance to the House Chamber. Afterward, Rodgers was involved in another scuffle with police, remained in the building, and paraded through the Rotunda waving his flag before finally exiting the building at approximately 2:56 p.m.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, Middle District of Florida, and the FBI’s Tampa Field Office.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Detroit and Washington Field Offices, which identified Rodgers as BOLO (“Be On the Look Out”) #242 on its seeking information photos.
Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 29 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Topic(s): Violent CrimeComponent(s): Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)USAO – District of ColumbiaUSAO – Florida, MiddleUSAO – Michigan, EasternPress Release Number: 23-365
Updated June 30, 2023 Original Article