A 64-year-old man from Lewiston, Maine was arrested on multiple charges, including felony offenses, stemming from his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Andre Maurice Bonneau is accused of assaulting law enforcement personnel during the breach that took place as Congress convened to certify the 2020 presidential election results.
The U.S. Attorney's Office reports that in addition to felony charges, Bonneau faces several misdemeanors for deliberately entering or remaining in restricted areas, engaging in violence, and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Arrested by the FBI in Maine, he made his initial appearance in the District of Maine following the arrest.
Bonneau's alleged altercation with the police was captured on video footage, where he apparently ignored orders to "get back," instead attempting to push through a bike rack barricade meant to hold back the rioters, according to the press release. The confrontation continued for about 20 seconds, during which officers resorted to batons and chemical irritants to stop Bonneau's advancement, ultimately repelling his efforts.
Over the past 44 months since the Capitol insurrection, the DOJ has brought charges against more than 1,504 individuals across the country, with over 560 of those charged for felony assault or impeding law enforcement. The case against Bonneau is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with assistance from the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.
The ongoing investigation by the FBI's Boston and Washington Field Offices identified Bonneau as BOLO #529 from the FBI's list of individuals suspected of involvement in the Jan. 6 events. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department have also been acknowledged for their valuable assistance in the case.
