A New York man was taken into custody on allegations stemming from his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Walter Joseph Wentland, 31, of Sparrow Bush, faces felony and misdemeanor charges following the incident that unfolded as the U.S. Congress was verifying the electoral votes of the 2020 presidential election. The Department of Justice reported Wentland's arrest today, stating that the FBI apprehended him in New York.
Charges against Wentland include obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder—a felony. He is also charged with various misdemeanors including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in restricted and Capitol building or grounds, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. The Department of Justice detailed these allegations, citing court documents for evidence of his conduct.
Allegedly associated with the Hudson Valley New York Proud Boys, Wentland was spotted on open-source images and footage from the Capitol riot. Court documents revealed he directly confronted police officers within the Capitol's restricted perimeter. Using a bullhorn, Wentland was heard questioning officers' integrity, expressing his disillusionment by stating to the police, "Where's your f— oath?"; "Your values mean nothing"; and "We used to back the blue, but now you're Oathbreakers and we can't stand you."
As officers from the Metropolitan Police Department, decked in riot gear, moved to defend the Capitol, Wentland is alleged to have physically interacted with them, including grabbing an officer. Advancing into the Upper West Terrace, he entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing Door. Court filings claim he exited a short while later through a broken window adjacent to the same door. The U.S. Department of Justice is leading the prosecution, with aid from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
In the nearly four years since the breach, over 1,561 individuals have been charged in connection to the Capitol riot, and the investigation is far from over. The Department of Justice has also pointed out that more than 590 of these individuals are facing charges of assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The FBI continues to solicit information from the public, urging anyone with tips to reach out through their hotline or online submission form.
