Man accused of striking police with flagpole during Capitol riot arrested in Orlando
A wanted man was arrested Friday in Orlando in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the U.S. Capitol where he allegedly struck a U.S. Capitol police officer with a flagpole before getting into another scuffle with law enforcement, according to the United States Department of Justice.
Jeremy Rodgers, 28, of Midland, Michigan, is facing a slew of misdemeanor and felony charges related to the Capitol breach, including assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, according to records filed in federal court on Friday.
Investigators allege surveillance cameras captured Rodgers, who was wearing a knit hat that said “TRUMP,” striking a U.S. Capitol police officer three times with a wooden flagpole, according to a complaint. A little while later, Rodgers swung the flagpole twice more in the direction of officers.
The government further alleged that Rodgers used the flagpole — topped with a blue flag that said “TRUMP 2020
KEEP AMERICA GREAT” — to prevent officers from closing the East rotunda door, the same one he used to enter the Capitol building at approximately 2:26 p.m., according to the DOJ.
Rodgers would remain in the building for a total of 30 minutes.
Once inside, he walked toward Statuary Hall and the House side of the building and, according to investigators, could be seen removing a railing, which blocked the path of the crowd behind him. Meanwhile, he said “come on in” to the oncoming crowd. Rodgers also shouted “USA, USA” as he waved people toward the House Chambers, according to court records.
At the time, members of the House of Representatives as well as staff and Capitol police officers were barricaded inside the chambers.
Rodgers, investigators said, “joined a crowd of rioters that pushed through a police line guarding” the entrance to the chambers.
A few minutes later, Rodgers was involved in another scuffle with police, who used “smoke, tear gas, or some other irritant, presumably in an attempt to disperse the rioters,” according to a complaint.
Rodgers’ arrest came months after multiple people tipped off the FBI to his identity. His photo was placed by the organization on a public website titled “FBI Most Wanted – Capitol Violence,” which was created to help find people who agents said were violent during the riot.
In December, investigators approached Rodgers in Midland, Michigan, and tried to interview him, court records said. He refused.
Rodgers was scheduled to make his initial appearance Friday at the federal courthouse in downtown Orlando.
More than two years after Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 people throughout the country have been arrested for crimes related to the Capitol breach, according to the DOJ.
