CT Man, Accused Jan. 6 Rioter Charged With Assaulting Federal Officer

WOLCOTT, CT — A Wolcott man has been charged in connection with assaulting law enforcement with a baton and wooden pole during the breach of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, according to a statement from prosecutors.

Richard Markey, 38, of Wolcott, was arrested Monday on felony and misdemeanor charges. Markey was one of those whose actions disrupted a joint session of Congress dedicated to counting the electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election, according to prosecutors.

At 2:41 p.m. on that date, numerous Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police officers positioned themselves at the exterior archway of the Capitol, an area also known as the tunnel. Officers fell back to the tunnel to prevent rioters from entering the building through that entrance and formed a police line. A few minutes later, rioters began entering the tunnel and attacking the officers.

Rioters then tried to breach the police line in the tunnel using a variety of weapons and their bodies to overcome police. Surveillance footage shows a person, who authorities later identified as Markey, "abruptly emerging from the riotous mob near the south side of the tunnel, climbing on top of other rioters, and holding what appears to be a police baton," according to a statement.

Video footage allegedly shows Markey pushing himself toward the police line, raising the baton, and striking at law enforcement. Court documents say that Markey struck these officers in the face and head. He then lost the baton but continued to strike at police with his fists.

Markey then began to pull at and kick a police shield from an officer, according to prosecutors. A police officer then attempted to stop the assault using a wooden pole. Markey is accused of pulling the wooden pole away from the officer and using it to strike at police.

Court documents state that Markey struck at police with such force that the wooden pole snapped. Markey then left the tunnel entrance and police line a while later.

Markey was charged with assaulting a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a Capitol building or grounds; obstructing or impeding passage within or through a Capitol building or grounds, and violent conduct in a Capitol building or grounds.

More than 1,069 people from nearly all 50 states have been arrested for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.