This South Jersey man is accused of dragging an officer toward Capitol rioters

A South Jersey man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol .

Predrag "Peter" Jovanovic, 64, of Pilesgrove, at one point grabbed an officer’s baton and pulled the officer toward a mob of rioters, the U.S. Department of Justice said in announcing his arrest Friday. Jovanovic attended a rally for supporters of then-President Donald Trump before climbing scaffolding to an inauguration platform outside the Capitol.

Multiple sources of video show the Salem County man entering the Capitol’s Lower West Terrace tunnel, the scene of violent attacks against law enforcement, according to a Justice Department statement.

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Inside the tunnel, he allegedly rushed a line of police officers at an inner doorway to the Capitol.

“In the ensuing scuffle, Jovanovic was forced back behind one of the glass doors,” the statement said.

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“About 20 seconds later, Jovanovic forced open one of the doors, allowing rioters to surge forward and attack the police line. Seconds later, Jovanovic advanced further into the tunnel and pushed directly against a police officer’s riot shield,” according to the statement.

It claimed Jovanovic pulled on an officer's baton and pushed against the police line at various points for about 15 minutes. He allegedly left the tunnel after an officer released pepper spray on the crowd.

Jovanovic then stayed in a restricted area outside the Capitol until officers sprayed tear gas to disperse the crowd, the statement alleged.

Jovanovic is charged with two felony offenses — assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder.

He also faces four misdemeanor charges, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings.

The charges are only allegations. Jovonavic has not been convicted in the case.

The arrest of Jovonavic was announced one day after another South Jersey man, 51-year-old Michael Oliveras of Lindenwold, received a five-year prison term for crimes arising from the Capitol riot.

More than 15 South Jersey residents have been charged in connection with the 2021 Capitol riot.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: This South Jersey man is accused of dragging an officer toward Capitol rioters