Image by Richard Burton from Pixabay 

July 17, 2023 - WASHINGTON — A Connecticut man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement, related to 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.

            Richard Markey, 38, of Wolcott, Connecticut, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with assaulting a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a Capitol building or grounds; obstructing or impeding passage within or through a Capitol building or grounds, and violent conduct in a Capitol building or grounds.

            Markey was arrested in Wolcott and made his initial appearance today in the District of Connecticut.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, at approximately 2:41 p.m., numerous United States Capitol Police (USCP) and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers positioned themselves at the exterior archway, also referred to as the “tunnel,” leading to the lower west terrace exterior door after having had their positions on the lower west terrace of the U.S. Capitol building overrun by rioters. Officers fell back to the tunnel in an effort to prevent rioters from entering the building through that entrance and formed a police line. Only a few minutes later, rioters began entering the tunnel and attacking the officers.

            Court documents state that from approximately 2:42 p.m. on, numerous rioters attempted to breach the police line that formed in the tunnel, using a variety of weapons and their bodies to overcome police. A review of surveillance footage from the scene depicts an individual, later identified as Markey, abruptly emerging from the riotous mob near the south side of the tunnel, climbing on top of other rioters, and holding what appears to be a police baton.

            Video footage shows Markey pushing himself toward the police line, raising the baton, and striking at law enforcement. Court documents say that Markey allegedly struck these officers in the face and head. Markey then loses the baton but continues to strike at police with his fists. Several seconds later, another rioter would join Markey on top of the mob to join the assault on the police.

            Court records state that Markey then begins to pull at and kick a police shield from an officer. Moments later, an MPD officer attempts to deter Markey from his assault using a wooden pole. Markey is accused of pulling the wooden pole away from the officer and using it to strike at police. Court documents say that Markey struck at police with such force that the wooden pole snapped. Markey then departed the tunnel entrance and police line a while later.

            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 District of Connecticut.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington and New Haven Field Offices, which identified Markey as BOLO (“Be On the Look Out”) 265-AFO (Assault on a Federal Officer) on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 30 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,069 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 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.