Sewell man faces felony charges over alleged role in Capitol riot

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The operator of a Sewell construction firm is accused of assaulting a law enforcement officer during the January 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Peter Michael Krill Jr., 54, allegedly pulled a barricade away from officers outside the Capitol, “briefly allowing a group of protesters to push into the officers,” the U.S. Justice Department alleges.

He is also accused of entering the Capitol and remaining inside the building for about an hour.

Krill was arrested at his home in Sewell on Dec. 15, then was released on an unsecured bond of $100,000.

He is among about 15 South Jersey residents charged in connection with the riot by supporters of then-President Donald Trump who sought to block the election of President Joe Biden.

Krill carried an American flag and wore a helmet and goggles, as well as a Trump 2020 sweatshirt, during the riot, according to an affidavit that accompanies a criminal complaint.

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It says the FBI received an online tip in January 2021 from someone reporting Krill’s apparent presence in a TikTok video recorded during the riot.

A different tipster in September 2021 reported an individual known as "Pete" had videos on his phone from inside the Capitol. The tipster said "Pete" operated PMK Construction in Sewell, and later identified Krill from his driver's license photo, according to the filing.

Subscriber information for the TikTok account included a phone number used by PMK Construction, the filing says.

The barricade incident, which occurred around 1:35 p.m. on Jan. 6, was recorded by officers’ body-worn cameras, says the filing in Washington, D.C., federal court.

Surveillance video allegedly showed Krill enter the Capitol about an hour later and leave around 3:25 p.m.

Krill is charged with felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, the Justice Department said Thursday.

He also faces four misdemeanor charges, including disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

An attorney for Krill could not be reached for comment.

The charges against Krill are only accusations. He has not been convicted in the case.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Sewell NJ: Peter Krill Jr. charged in Capitol attack on Jan. 6