August 7, 2024 - WASHINGTON — A Pennsylvania man was arrested for allegedly assaulting law enforcement and other charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His alleged 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 2020 presidential election.
Daniel Collins, 43, of Greentown, Pennsylvania, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.
In addition to the felonies, Collins is charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in restricted grounds or buildings, disorderly and disruptive conduct in restricted grounds or buildings, engaging in physical violence in restricted grounds or buildings, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds, committing an act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings, and parading, picketing, and demonstrating in a Capitol Building.
FBI agents arrested Collins on August 6, 2024, in Greentown, Pennsylvania, and he made his initial appearance in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The following set of images: Upon entering, COLLINS, used the Battle of Bunker Hill flag he was carrying to hit a Chandelier above the doorway (Image 5).
After entering, COLLINS made his way to an area between the Crypt and Memorial Doors (Image 63 ) where he watched other rioters overrun a police line, took photos, and put his arm around a George Washington statute yelling “1776, BABY!”
According to court documents, Collins was on the northwest side of the U.S. Capitol grounds among a crowd of rioters at about 1:54 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021. Metropolitan officers attempted cut through the mob, and requested people move aside. The police were largely ignored by the rioters. At approximately 2 p.m., rioters attacked the line of MPD officers. The officers regrouped and began to push forward where they were met with more resistance as the mob ignored commands to move.
About 2:02 p.m., officers began to push those refusing to move out of the way which caused the crowd to push back and attack officers. During this confrontation, Collins grabbed an MPD officer around the neck, nearly bringing the officer to the ground. After the assault, the crowd and officers regrouped. Collins can be seen taking out his cell phone to record officers and tell them: “It’s a peaceful protest. What are you doing?”
Collins climbed the Northwest staircase leading to the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol Building before entering at 2:19 p.m. via emergency exit doors also known as the Senate Wing Doors. Upon entering, Collins, used the Battle of Bunker Hill flag he was carrying to bat at a chandelier hanging above the doorway. Collins then made his way to an area between the Crypt and Memorial Doors where he watched other rioters overrun a police line, took photos, and put his arm around a George Washington statue and yelled “1776, BABY!”
He made his way to the second floor where he videoed himself accessing an external balcony over the Upper West Terrace and walked through the Rotunda while smoking a cigarette. About 3 p.m. MPD and U.S. Capitol Police officers began to clear the Rotunda of rioters. Their efforts were met with resistance. Collins initially filmed the violent clash between rioters and officers. At about 3:07 p.m., rioters near Collins waved others to join the resistance. Open-source and CCTV video captured Collins with his back to police, using his body weight to impede law enforcement’s attempts to clear the Rotunda. He then proceeded to the Rotunda lobby before exiting the Capitol Building via the East Rotunda Doors at 3:16 p.m. Later that evening, Collins was filmed laughing and showing video, on his phone, of the assault aftermath while saying “I lived that shit” and “I think I’m going to jail soon.”
On November 15, 2022, after receiving a tip, the FBI made contact with Collins at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania. He was wearing a black Mets hat with white stitching-just like the hat seen in videos from January 6, 2021. Collins refused to be interviewed but said that Black Lives Matter did far worse than the Capitol riots and that the election was rigged.
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 Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The case is being investigated by the FBI's Philadelphia and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 43 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,488 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 550 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. 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.
Source: DOJ Release