Robert Sanford, 55, was arrested in Pennsylvania on Thursday morning, the Department of Justice said. Court documents say Sanford was seen in a video carrying a “red object that appears to be a fire extinguisher” when he broke a short wall in the lower west terrace of the Capitol. He allegedly threw the fire extinguisher at police officers, hitting one with a helmet before ricocheting and hitting two others.
Officer William Young said he “felt a strong blow to the back of his helmet,” according to court documents, and saw a fire extinguisher on the ground, but did not see who hit him. Young was evaluated in the hospital and released to return to work.
Records show that Sanford was identified Tuesday at the FBI branch in Pennsylvania and was indicted on Wednesday in the US District Court.
He faces four points: knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or site without legal permission; disorder or destructive behavior of the Capitol; civil disorder; and attacking, resisting or obstructing certain employees while engaged in the performance of official duties, the documents say.
It was not immediately clear if there was a lawyer.
So far, more than 30 people have been arrested on federal charges, with some accused accused of bringing weapons to Capitol Hill and others photographed robbing the building. Many have been charged with illegal entry or forced entry.
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