W MI man facing Jan. 6 charges ‘appalled’ by what he saw

Michael Oszust
·2 min read
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A West Michigan man who faces charges in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol says he never wanted to see anyone get hurt.

Curtis Pulaski, 29, of Wyoming, turned himself in Thursday to the FBI. According to court documents, he faces federal charges, including entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a capitol building; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building.

In the criminal complaint, federal officials said the FBI received an anonymous tip that Pulaski went to a Washington D.C. hospital for treatment of a spinal injury on Jan. 7, 2021. It’s alleged he told nurses that he was injured while taking part in the riot at the Capitol building. He allegedly said he injured his back when he fell while climbing the wall of the building and trying to break in.

The nurses also noted that they found a bulletproof vest among Pulaski’s personal belongings described as “tactical type gear,” according to the criminal complaint.

When a News 8 crew stopped by his home on a quiet Wyoming street Friday, he spoke through the screen door. He said he wouldn’t comment, but went on to say no one should have gotten hurt that day.

When asked if he was sorry for what he did, Pulaski replied, “I’m not proud.”

“There was a lot of violence that day that I don’t agree with at all. I didn’t partake in any violence. I was very appalled by a lot of the behavior I saw that day,” he said. “I did make a lot of decisions that day that I do regret.”

During an interview with FBI agents on Jan. 12, 2021, the criminal complaint said Pulaski said he attended the event to livestream it and get video of the rally for his YouTube channel. He allegedly also admitted to entering the Capitol building twice to get better footage. He later deleted the videos, according to federal documents.

Pulaski is currently free on bond pending his first court appearance in Washington, D.C., in mid-January.

— News 8’s Susan Samples contributed to this report.

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