August 26, 2024 - WASHINGTON — A Utah man was arrested today on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his alleged 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.

           Hal Ray Huddleston, 66, Ogden, Utah, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in the Capitol building and grounds, and parading, picketing, and demonstrating in a Capitol building.

           The FBI arrested Huddleston today in Utah, and he will make his initial appearance in the District of Utah.

           According to court documents, Huddleston was identified entering the U.S. Capitol building at about 3:08 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, via the Senate Wing Door. After entering the building, Huddleston made his way toward the Crypt and later exited the building at approximately 3:24 p.m.

           After exiting the Capitol building, Huddleston remained for over an hour outside the Senate Wing Door on the Upper West Terrace, still within the restricted perimeter established around the building, and allegedly joined at least one violent confrontation between rioters and officers. At approximately 4:20 p.m., a large line of police officers in riot gear began advancing toward the northwest corner of the Upper West Terrace in an effort to clear the hundreds of rioters, including Huddleston, from the area.

           At about 4:26 p.m., as the police line began to push the crowd north, several members of the crowd near Huddleston pushed back against the police line and began fighting with officers. One of the rioters pushing against the police line did so by holding a wooden flagpole horizontally and pushing it into the backs of rioters pushing into police in order to reinforce them. Open-source video footage shows Huddleston allegedly grabbing the pole and joining the other rioter in pushing it as part of the effort to hold back the police line from advancing.

           It is alleged that while Huddleston continued to push the flagpole with his left hand, he then placed his right hand on the back of the other rioter, pushing the flagpole, adding additional force in holding back the officers. Shortly after, police dispersed the rioters fighting against them using OC spray and other crowd control equipment.

Image 16: Screenshot from open-source video capturing Huddleston at approximately 4:26 p.m. as he grabbed a flagpole and used it to push against other rioters in an effort to hold back police line from advancing.

           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 Utah.

           The case is being investigated by the FBI's Salt Lake City 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.