Pennsylvania man charged with throwing fire extinguisher at police in U.S. Capitol riot



[ad_1]

A retired Pennsylvania firefighter has been arrested and now faces charges for allegedly throwing a fire extinguisher at police during the deadly mob attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters.

According to court documents filed Thursday, 55 Robert Sanford of Chester, Pa., Faces federal felony charges, including assaulting a police officer, after authorities identified Sanford in footage showing a man throwing a fire extinguisher at police.

“The video was shot from a high position and showed an area of ​​the Capitol with a large group of police surrounded on at least three sides by a group of insurgents,” the court said.

In the footage, according to court documents, the fire extinguisher can be seen hitting an officer wearing a helmet before it ricochets off and hits an officer without a helmet. The object then ricochets again and strikes a third officer in the head. This officer wore a helmet.

The incident was separate from an ongoing investigation into the death of Capitol Hill policeman Brian Sicknick, who died after he was apparently hit on the head with a fire extinguisher in the January 6 riot.

Sanford, who recently retired from the Chester Fire Department according to court documents, has also been charged with disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds, civil unrest and illegally entering the Capitol building.

Authorities said the FBI earlier this week asked the public to help identify a man in video footage wearing a hat with the letters “CFD” on it. A friend who knew Sanford was on the Capitol grounds during the riot contacted police after seeing the FBI photos.

According to The Associated Press, Sanford is scheduled to appear in federal court in Philadelphia Thursday afternoon, although authorities said the case would be continued in Washington, DC

Court documents did not indicate whether Sanford had a lawyer to represent him at the time.

The Justice Department has so far brought more than 70 criminal cases related to last week’s pro-Trump riot that occurred during a joint session of Congress convened to certify the president-elect. Joe bidenJoe BidenCotton: Senate lacks power to hold impeachment trial once Trump steps down Marjorie Taylor Greene says she will present articles of impeachment against Biden’s acting director ICE resigns weeks after entering in functionthe electoral victory of.

Five people died in the chaos, including Sicknick and a shot woman by an officer in civilian clothes. Three others died from “medical emergencies” near the Capitol grounds.



[ad_2]

Source link