‘Front of the mob:’ Horry Co. man facing charges tied to Jan. 6 Capitol riot

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — An Horry County man is facing multiple charges related to Jan. 6, 2021 violence at the U.S. Capitol and was set to make an initial appearance in court on Wednesday.

Jason Brian Barrett was arrested by the FBI on the 1200 block of Burcale Road. His charges are:

• Assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers
• Obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder
• Entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds
• Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds
• Engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds
• Disorderly conduct in a Capitol building

A criminal complaint filed last week by details Barrett’s alleged behavior that includes body worn camera footage of him picking up a helmet from the ground and throwing it toward authorities.

The FBI said it identified Barrett in October as a man who until then was only known by his attire of a dark green hoodie, brown jacket, white and blue baseball cap, sunglasses, gray and black gloves, torn blue jeans a light grey backpack.

“Video footage shows that, while rioters were attempting to overwhelm officers and breach the police line, (Barrett) grabbed a Metropolitan Police Department officer from behind,” the complaint states.

At another time, the man identified by the FBI as Barrett picked up a patrol officer’s helmet and threw it in the “general direction” of security barriers and posts.

Authorities compared images on social media platforms they said were tied to Barrett from Jan. 5 and Jan. 6 that discussed his planned travel to Washington, D.C. Barrett was wearing the same clothing in one post as the person depicted on body camera footage, officials said in the complaint.

The FBI made “consensual contact” in May with a person it believed was Barrett, comparing his physical likeness to footage taken on Jan. 6.

By 1 p.m. that day, a mob breached the U.S. Capitol grounds and poured into the West Plaza.

“As officers attempted to fend off the crowd, BARRETT can be seen climbing over a short wall, retrieving a blue “Trump 2020″ flag, assisting other rioters over the wall, and making his way closer to the line of police officers,” the complaint says.

Less than 15 minutes later, Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived on scene as back up, forming another line of bike rack barricades to push the crowd away.

“As officers continued to fend off constant attacks from the crowd, BARRETT remained at the front of the mob,” the complaint states.

He then “forcefully grabbed” a Metropolitan Police Department bicycle officer from behind and wrapped his arm around his neck, according to the complaint and footage captured on surveillance cameras.

Barrett was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court’s Florence Division Wednesday afternoon.

More than 1,470 people from every state have been charged with crimes related to the U.S. Capitol breach, including more than 530 charged with felony assault or impeding law enforcement, according to the FBI.

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