A Hawaii man, identified as 31-year-old Alexander Cain Poplin of Wahiawa, was taken into custody on September 10, facing allegations of aggressive conduct against law enforcement during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, Poplin is now charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a dangerous weapon, creating civil disorder, and several misdemeanor offenses that include trespassing on restricted government grounds and engaging in violent behavior. He was dressed in a black Columbia jacket, a black beanie, and an Army ACU camouflage backpack during the rally hosted by the former president before the attack; by afternoon, he was seen wielding an "Area Closed" sign and a blue flagpole as he allegedly assaulted a Metropolitan Police Department officer at the U.S. Capitol.
Poplin's attire, comprised of a distinct black jacket and beanie, coupled with his actions were instrumental in confirming his identity, particularly as footage from various media sources and law enforcement's body cameras captured the alleged attack.
The case against Poplin is part of a larger investigation involving over 1,504 individuals charged in connection with the Capitol breach. This effort includes the DOJ's Counterterrorism Section, the FBI's Honolulu and Washington Field Offices, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department. Despite the chaos and large number of attackers on January 6, law enforcement continues to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.
As stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office, "a complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law." People who have any information related to these events are encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit the official tips website.
