Federal Charges Filed Against Man In Connection With Capitol Riot

KING GEORGE, VA — A man from King George was arrested on Wednesday after he was charged with federal crimes related to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Officials said the man, James Russell Davis, was a former Marine and a self-proclaimed member of the Proud Boys.

Davies is charged with "assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, " the U.S. Attorney's Office said. He is one of more than 500 people who have been arrested and charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot. During the riot, protestors stormed the Capitol and disrupted a joint session of Congress as they counted electoral votes from the 2020 presidential election.

Court documents claim that Davis confronted police officers on the west front terrace stairs of the Capitol as they attempted to protect the building from rioters. The U.S. Attorney's Office said body-worn camera footage from the riot shows Davis holding a large stick.

"Davis charged toward officers while wielding a large stick," the U.S. Attorney's Office wrote in a news release. "After an officer shouted for Davis to move back, he allegedly did not follow the command and again charged at the officers."

Authorities claimed that Davis also pushed down the hands of a second officer who tried to block his advance. During the encounter, Davis pointed to a U.S. Marine Corps hat he was wearing, and noted, "I fought for this country," according to court documents.

The U.S. Attorney's Office also noted that publicly available footage shows Davis identifying himself as a member of the Proud Boys. The Proud Boys, who describe themselves as "Western Chauvinists," are designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

More than 165 people have now been charged with assaulting law enforcement officers during the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol. Investigations are still ongoing, and authorities said anyone with tips about the breach can submit tips online.