FBI Arrests Retired Firefighter Accused Of Throwing Fire Extinguisher At Capitol Police

A retried firefighter was arrested Thursday amid allegations that he threw a hearth extinguisher at U.S. Capitol Police officers throughout final week’s violent rebellion within the halls of Congress.

Robert Sanford, 55, of Pennsylvania, turned himself in to the FBI this week and faces 4 expenses: assaulting a police officer, disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, unlawfully getting into the Capitol and civil dysfunction. Three of these expenses are felonies, and Sanford was ordered held with out bail.

Sanford retired from the Chester Fire Department, close to Philadelphia, final 12 months. Per week after the riot, a good friend contacted federal investigators to show Sanford in, saying he had identified him for years and that Sanford had confessed “he was the person the FBI was looking for” after the company despatched out public appeals to assist determine rioters.

Federal officers advised a decide that Sanford appeared to throw a “red object” throughout the riot in video footage obtained after the assault. The riot left 5 individuals useless, together with one Capitol Police officer (the fees towards Sanford should not associated to the loss of life of Officer Brian Sicknick, who was additionally attacked with a hearth extinguisher and later died).

“The object appears to strike one officer, who was wearing a helmet, in the head,” the FBI stated in a court docket submitting of Sanford’s alleged acts. “The object then ricochets and strikes another officer, who was not wearing a helmet, in the head. The object then ricochets a third time and strikes a third officer, wearing a helmet, in the head. Immediately after throwing the object, the Subject moves quickly in the opposite direction.”

Sanford’s lawyer advised The Associated Press that his consumer was “caught up in the mob mentality.” The lawyer has requested for Sanford to be launched on bail, pointing to his lengthy profession as a firefighter.

Prosecutors additionally famous {that a} search warrant executed at Sanford’s residence uncovered a shirt bearing markings linked to the far-right Proud Boys, though his lawyer denied his consumer owned such an merchandise.

The FBI has acquired greater than 126,000 suggestions as federal brokers scour video footage for proof to cost those that broke that legislation throughout the rebellion. Dozens have been arrested, together with a person on Thursday who was photographed within the Capitol holding a Confederate battle flag.

Sanford’s case shall be prosecuted in Washington, D.C.