PA Man Pleads Guilty To Attacking Officers, Photographer On Jan. 6

FLEETWOOD, PA - A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty on Monday to charges related to attacking law enforcement officers and a press photographer during the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021, federal officials said.

Alan William Byerly, 55, of Fleetwood, P.a., pleaded guilty in federal court to assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers and striking, beating, or wounding an individual on federal grounds.

He faces a statutory minimum sentence of eight years in prison for assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers and one year in prison for striking, beating, or wounding an individual on federal grounds.

The charges also carry potential financial penalties, federal officials said.

Byerly reportedly carried a stun gun to a rally on Jan. 6, and later to the Capitol grounds, according to court documents. He joined other rioters around 2:10 p.m. at the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol, where a journalist from the Associated Press wielding a camera and press badge was thrown down a flight of stairs. Byerly then watched the group pull the journalist down the stairs and subsequently assault him, federal officials said.

At the bottom of the stairs, Byerly and three others grabbed the journalist and “pushed, shoved and dragged him,” federal officials added.

A short time later, Byerly approached several law enforcement officers and activated his stun weapon. While officers managed to remove the stun gun from Byerly, he continued to charge at officers by physically striking and pushing them, as well as grabbing an officer’s baton, federal officials said.

Byerly was arrested on July 7, 2021, in Fleetwood, P.a. He’s set to be sentenced on Oct. 21.

Over 850 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the Jan. 6 riots, including over 260 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing, federal officials said.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.