Norwalk man broke police line, chased cop on Jan. 6: DOJ
A Norwalk man is facing multiple charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol after prosecutors said he helped break police lines, encouraged other rioters to enter the Capitol and chased an officer inside the building.
Michael Haltom, 43, faces nine total charges, the United States Department of Justice said in a news release:
Felony
Civil disorder
Obstruction of an official proceeding
Misdemeanor
Destruction of government property
Knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds
Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds
Knowingly engaging in any act of physical violence against any person or property in any restricted building or grounds
Disorderly or disruptive conduct in a Capitol building
Engaging in an act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings
Parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building
According to prosecutors, Haltom was spotted at about 1:30 p.m. combating police officers at a line of bike rack barricades, including “repeatedly push[ing] on the barricades as police officers attempted to hold back the crowd,” the DOJ said. He continued to struggle with officers even as they deployed pepper spray directly at him, officials added.
4 SoCal militia members convicted on Jan. 6 charges
After police lines broke, Haltom was “among the first rioters to reach” the door of the Senate Wing of the Capitol, and he “continued to wave other rioters forward,” the release said.
“At approximately 2:12 p.m., rioters used a police shield and lumber taken from the inauguration scaffolding to smash the of the Senate Wing Door,” prosecutors said. “Rioters then climbed through those windows and kicked open the door to allow access to other rioters. Haltom climbed through the broken window at about 2:13 p.m., less than one minute after the first rioter breached the Capitol building that day.”
Haltom remained inside the Capitol until 2:56 p.m., when law enforcement directed him out.
During the nearly 45 minutes he was inside the Capitol, Haltom “and others confronted a United States Capitol Police officer, who was blocking their advance,” the release said.
“Haltom and others yelled at and moved toward that Officer, who eventually began retreating up the staircase behind him,” officials said. “Haltom was the second person from the front of the crowd pursuing the officer up the stairs.”
He also made his way to the House of Representatives side of the building, where he tried to “forcefully kick open a large wooden door leading in the direction of the Speaker’s Lobby and House Chamber.”
Haltom was taken into custody in the L.A. area on Wednesday and is expected to appear in United States District Court in downtown L.A. Wednesday afternoon.
He is now one of nearly 1,300 people charged in the three years since the insurrection, including 440 people who allegedly assaulted or impeded law enforcement, which prosecutors noted is a felony.
The defendants come from nearly every state, and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with tips about the events of Jan. 6, 2021, can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
