Over three years after the Capitol breach, a North Carolina man faces charges for his alleged involvement during the tumultuous events of January 6, 2021. According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, John Joseph Carl, 41, from Pinetops, has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges.
Charges against Carl include the felony of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder along with various misdemeanor charges: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, picketing, and demonstrating in a Capitol building. With officials attempting to make their way through the rioting crowds, it is alleged that Carl, arrested on Aug. 15, resisted police during the breach, making his initial court appearance in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Carl, who serves as a police officer, allegedly traveled from North Carolina to join the former President's rally in Washington, D.C. Post-rally, he is said to have been at the forefront of those clashing with law enforcement at the Capitol. Allegations include that he actively pushed back against police and grabbed at their equipment. Court documents suggest that Carl entered the Capitol itself and found his way into a Senator's office sometime around 3:05 p.m. that day.
FBI's Charlotte and Washington Field Offices conducted the investigation leading to Carl's arrest, identifying him as BOLO number 453 from the FBI’s seeking information photographs. The case, with assistance by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department, has led more than 1,488 individuals across the United States to face charges related to the riots, including assault on law enforcement, a felony.
