Eastern NC police officer arrested, charged with being at Jan. 6 riot: DOJ

NORTH CAROLINA ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — An eastern North Carolina police officer is facing charges related to his alleged actions during the breach of the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the US Attorney’s Office announced.

On Aug. 15, 2024, John Joseph Carl, 41, of Pinetops in Edgecombe County was arrested. He and others are accused of disrupting a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 presidential election.

FBI: (Left) John Carl took a photo at the Capitol, which he later shared with the FBI. (Right) is a screenshot from an officer’s body-worn camera, which appears to show Carl.

Documents show Carl reportedly traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend a rally held on Jan. 6, 2021, and afterward making his way to the west front of the U.S. Capitol Building.

According to court documents, Carl was shown in front of the crowd clashing with police around 2 p.m. Officers were surrounded by the crowd and tried to move the rioters back.

Carl reportedly resisted police, pushed back against police and grabbed an officer’s arm and baton.

Around 3:05 p.m., Carl was accused of entering the Capitol building by the Senate wing door and going into a senator’s office.

FBI: (Left) Screenshot from a video John Carl reportedly took. (Right) Surveillance video appears to show Carl entering the Capitol building at 3:05 p.m.

Carl is accused of the following:

• Felony obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder
• Misdemeanor entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds
• Misdemeanor disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds
• Misdemeanor disorderly conduct in a Capitol building
• Misdemeanor parading, picketing, and demonstrating in a Capitol building

On Jan. 9, 2021, an unnamed man submitted a tip to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confessing to crimes he committed during the breach of the Capitol. Officials say that in a later interview with this man, he admitted to driving to Wilson to pick up his friend, identified as Carl, and then driving to Washington.

According to authorities, the unnamed man continued that he and Carl worked their way to the Capitol building and were let in one of the doors by fellow rioters. This man says he didn’t go far into the building, but Carl did.

Law enforcement members say Carl confirmed to them that the unnamed man was his friend and that what he said was true. Carl also provided videos and pictures he took that day identifying himself in the images.

Carl reportedly said that “there were people punching back and forth” and that “on our side, there wasn’t a lot of like swinging or throwing … it was just, you know, guys putting their shoulder in and the police with their shield pushing back on the crowd.”

Following Carl’s arrest, the Pinetops Police Department confirmed that Carl was hired as a police officer for the town after the Jan. 6 breach, but before they knew he was accused of being there. Carl is currently suspended.

The Town of Pinetops Police Department was made aware of an incident involving an employee that occurred approximately two years and five months prior to his employment. The town was not aware of any investigation involving this employee in the past. This employee has been suspended. As this is a personnel matter, the Town cannot comment further at this time.

Pinetops Police Department

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