A Pennsylvania man was slapped with felony and misdemeanor charges for his alleged actions during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, which disrupted a congressional session meant to certify the 2020 election results. Gerald Powell, 51, from York, faced arrest after the FBI collared him on May 9, with charges including felony civil disorder and various misdemeanors, as per a criminal complaint filed in a the District of Columbia.
According to the Department of Justice, Powell joined the fray on the east front of the Capitol at about 1:56 p.m. Court documents allege he was among the first batch of rioters to bulldoze past the police barriers. Rather than pushing forward with the wave of people, Powell is accused of facilitating the riot by moving at least five barricades, widening the breach for others to storm toward the building.
The chaos continued as Powell reportedly entered the Capitol and was seen parading around the Rotunda with an American flag. "Powell then produced a bullhorn from his backpack and used it for approximately one minute," the Department of Justice's account reads. Before he left at around 2:52 p.m., waving his flag, Powell is said to have yelled at a newly formed police line.
In the 40 months since the Capitol breach, over 1,424 folks have been cuffed for related crimes across the country, with more than 500 facing felony charges for assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The massive investigation led by the FBI's Philadelphia and Washington field offices, in tandem with Capitol and Metropolitan Police Departments, remains active. Concerned citizens are urged to call with tips at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit them online at the FBI's tip website.
