Fairfax County Police Respond To Call For Assistance In DC

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Police Department was one of the local law enforcement agencies called to the U.S. Capitol Wednesday to provide assistance in quelling a riot that had broken out after a First Amendment demonstration.

Around 12 noon, protesters marched to the U.S. Capitol building following a speech by President Trump in front of the White House. Inside, members of Congress were planning to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election declaring President-elect Joe Biden the winner of the Electoral College by a margin of 306-232.

"As the demonstrators approached the United States Capitol grounds, there was a noticeable change in their demeanor," said Chief Robert Contee, of the Metropolitan Police Department Wednesday night. "They breeched the fencing along the U.S. Capitol grounds and confronted police lines surrounding the building."

The Capitol Police requested assistance from MPD and other police departments in the area to help with crowd management. Because of the resistance police encountered and the determination the demonstrators showed in gaining access to the building, a riot was declared, according to Contee.

One of the law enforcement agencies called into action was FCPD, according to a department spokesman:

"A mutual aid request came from Capitol Police yesterday afternoon and our officers quickly began to assemble at one of our district stations for an organized response around 3 p.m. Several dozen officers, all members of our Civil Disturbance Unit, arrived in the city around 4 p.m. Once there, they assisted our area partners with dispersing the crowds. Our officers did not make any arrests and fortunately, no serious injuries were reported. Our officers safely returned to the County late last night."

Other local law enforcement agencies providing support included Arlington County and Prince William County in Virginia, and Montgomery County and Prince Georges County in Maryland.

Fairfax County Board Chairman Jeff McKay commended FCPD's efforts and criticized the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol.

“Fairfax County sent officers from our Civil Disturbance Unit to Washington, D.C. last night to protect our country and our values on what will no doubt be remembered as one of the darkest days in our nation’s history. I am proud of them for their work,” McKay said. “Though we never received any credible threats in the County, our officers stepped up their presence and monitored areas we believed could see increased activity. Northern Virginia banded together as a region and, though I’m both angry and sad at what we saw at the Capitol, I’m glad we were able to help put an end to the attempted coup.”

Although the Capitol and some surrounding buildings had to be evacuated for a short time as rioters occupied the building, the police regained control by sweeping the U.S. Capitol of trespassers and establishing a secure perimeter around the building. Congress and the Senate were able to reconvene around 8 p.m. and certified the results of the presidential election. Biden's inauguration is scheduled for Jan. 20.

Also see ...

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• Trump Mob Breaches Capitol; 1 Shot In Melee; Biden Decries Riot