Defendant charged with multiple assaults on officers
WASHINGTON – A Pennsylvania man has been arrested on three counts, including assaulting law enforcement officers, for his actions during the violation of the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the US Congress in session to determine and count the electoral votes in connection with the presidential election.
Dustin Sargent, 30, of Kunkletown, Pa., is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with obstructing law enforcement during civil commotion, assault, obstructing or obstructing officials, obstructing an official process, any felony, entering and staying in a restricted area building or property, disorderly and disruptive behavior in a restricted building or property, use of physical violence in a restricted building or property, improper or disruptive behavior on Capitol property or buildings, act of physical violence on Capitol property or buildings, parade or picketing a Capitol building.
Sargent was arrested this morning in Kunkletown, Pennsylvania. It is expected to make its first appearance later today in Pennsylvania’s Middle District.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Sargent was among a crowd that gathered illegally in the Capitol just outside the Rotunda dome. He was caught on video surveillance entering the building through a broken window at the Senate Wing door on the west side of the Capitol, then exited the building before making his way to the east side, changing his hat and jacket, and a second time re-entered through the doors of the east rotunda.
Sargent was caught on video around 2:36 p.m. aggressively pushing himself with police officers. In the video, members of the riot can be heard singing the national anthem outside the Capitol doors, and as soon as the national anthem ends, members of the mob, including Sargent, physically attack police officers. Sargent is seen shoving Officer DV and grabbing Officer MF in an apparent attempt to physically push those officers and others away from the doors to allow other rioters into the Capitol. Sargent was involved in several attacks against these two officers during this exchange. In another video, Dustin Sargent can be heard telling a police officer defending the House chamber, “You let us in there, you deserve a Medal of Honor.” Police didn’t let Sargent and the rest of the mob in.
In December 2020 Facebook posts, Sargent discusses his frustration with the results of the 2020 presidential election and what to do in response. In particular, Sargent responds to a question about “…who are we fighting?”. Sargent partially replies that the fight will be with “traitors in our government” and “…cops and military…”. In another conversation dated January 4, 2021, just two days before the events of January 6, 2021, Sargent is asked directly how he thinks the protest will go. He explains that he wants his wife to be able to go to the hospital when he dies and that people in government “…can be hanged publicly”.
This case is being prosecuted by the US Attorney for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Division of the National Security Division. Valuable assistance was provided by the US Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, the Scranton Resident Agency and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, who identified Sargent as #436 in his information-seeking photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the US Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 24 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 950 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the US Capitol break-in, including over 284 people charged with assault or obstruction of law enforcement. The investigations are ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
A complaint is merely an allegation and all accused are presumed innocent until proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court.