Group from Florida arrested, charged in Jan. 6 attack on Capitol

Chelsey Cox, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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WASHINGTON — Five people from Florida have been charged with attacking police officers and other offenses during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol building, according to documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice Thursday.

Olivia Pollock, 30; Joshua Doolin, 22 and Joseph Hutchinson III, 25, all of Lakeland, Florida were arrested on June 30 along with Michael Perkins, 37, of Plant City, officials said. Pollock's sibling, Jonathan Pollock, 21, remains at large.

The combined charges against the defendants totaled 19 counts, including assault on law enforcement, theft of government property, violent entry and disorderly conduct. Perkins, Doolin and Pollock made their initial court appearance in the Middle District of Florida on the day of their arrest. Hutchinson made his initial appearance that same day in the Middle District of Georgia.

The Justice Department unsealed the documents two days after the six-month anniversary of the attack on the Capitol, when supporters of former President Donald Trump attempted to stop a special joint session of Congress from certifying President Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 general election.

More: Feds have arrested 535 in Jan. 6 Capitol assault, but still hunting violent rioters six months later

Five people died during or soon after the riot. As of Tuesday, at least 535 people have been arrested and 165 have been charged with assaulting police, resisting or interfering with the efforts of law enforcement to quell the violent mob.

Doolin, Perkins, Hutchinson and Pollock were charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding officers, among other charges. According to a statement released by the Justice Department, Jonathan Pollock allegedly assaulted three police officers while Perkins assaulted another with a flagpole. Olivia Pollock punched an officer and attempted to take a baton. Doolin, armed with zip-tie handcuffs and a riot-control chemical canister, is the only defendant not accused of assaulting officers, according to the report.

Doolin and Pollock were released last week on signature bond, according to The Ledger, a Lakeland newspaper. All federal cases have been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols in Washington.

The four defendants pleaded not guilty in D.C. federal court Thursday, according to reports.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Five people from Florida arrested, charged in Jan. 6 attack on Capitol