Robert Sanford, 55, was arrested Thursday morning in Pennsylvania, the Justice Department said. Legal documents say Sanford was seen on video with a “red object that appears to be a fire extinguisher” as he walked over a short wall at the Capitol’s lower west terrace. He allegedly threw the fire extinguisher at police officers who hit someone wearing a helmet before ricocheting and hitting two others.
Officer William Young said he “felt a hard strike on the back of his helmet,” according to court documents, and saw a fire extinguisher on the ground, but did not see who hit him. Young was evaluated at the hospital and cleared to return to service.
According to records, Sanford was identified Tuesday at the FBI Department of Pennsylvania and charged Wednesday with U.S. district court.
He faces four counts: deliberately entering or remaining in any restricted building or plot without lawful authority; disruptive or disruptive conduct for Capitol reasons; civil unrest and attack, resist or obstruct certain officers in the performance of official duties, the documents say.
It was not immediately clear if he has a lawyer.
So far, more than 30 people have been arrested on federal charges, with some of the defendants accused of bringing weapons to Capitol Hill, and others have been photographed and searched the building. Many are accused of illegal entry or violent entry.
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