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A New York man is accused of assaulting a metropolitan police officer and of taking his badge and radio “by force” during the January riot at the United States Capitol.
Federal officials said the officer, identified in court documents as MF, was assisting Capitol Police on January 6 when a riot pulled him into a crowd where he was “beaten, assaulted and stolen” his badge. , his radio and 17 – round magazine.
The rioters also attempted to “forcibly remove” the officer’s weapon from its holster, but without success, according to a criminal complaint.
“While a rioter was trying to retrieve the gun from the MF officer, the MF officer heard him shouting words saying he was going to take the gun from the MF officer and kill him,” said the officer. complaint.
During the scuffle, the policeman lost consciousness and was then taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Photos released by authorities show a hole in the officer’s tactical vest where his badge was “forcibly removed”. The attack was captured on his body camera and shows a person walking towards the officer and removing his badge and radio.
Authorities identified the person in the video as Thomas F. Sibick, of Buffalo, New York.
Sibick has been charged with knowingly entering a restricted building, violently entering or driving disorderly on Capitol grounds, obstructing law enforcement, assaulting or obstructing certain officers and taking anything of value by force.
According to the complaint, Sibick brought the badge and radio back to Buffalo and buried the badge in his backyard.
The document indicates that FBI agents spoke to someone who said Sibick posted an Instagram video of himself during the riot. In the footage he said he received tear gas but “here we go, baby, here we go”.
He then posted a Facebook of himself holding a shield belonging to a Capitol Hill police officer, according to the complaint.
In a Jan. 27 interview with FBI agents, officials said Sibick admitted to being on Capitol Hill on the day of the riot and described seeing two Metropolitan police attacked. He added that a group was trying to obtain one of the officer’s weapons and threatened to kill the officer, according to the complaint.
Sibick said he went to help the officer, according to the document.
Sibick said he tried to reach the officer to get him away, but could not reach him and at that time he feared for his life and that of the officer. Sibick added that due to the violence he had decided to leave, “the complaint states.
During that same interview, he told officers that the Capitol policeman’s shield was passing through the crowd and he took a photo with it.
Officers conducted a follow-up interview with Sibick on February 23 after identifying him in the police body camera video.
“Sibick said he reached out to try to help the officer and remembered the badge came off as he looked for it. Sibick said he pressed the ‘ orange emergency button ‘once he took possession of the radio to get help for the officer,’ the complaint states.
Sibick first told officers he dropped the badge and radio and left the Capitol, but later said he took the items back to Buffalo where he dumped the radio and buried the badge in his court. His lawyer, Alexander Anzalone, declined to comment on the case.
Sibick was arrested and then released at his father’s house after his appearance in federal court, according to NBC affiliate WGRZ.
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