Virginia man arrested for assaulting police and other crimes in Jan. 6 Capitol breach

FLOYD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A Virginia man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting law enforcement and other charges that relate to his alleged conduct during the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021.

36-year-old John Paul Bordeaux, of Floyd County in western Virginia, has been charged in a criminal complaint filed in D.C. with two felony offenses, which include civil disorder and assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bordeaux is also charged with misdemeanor offenses and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct and physical violence inside of the Capitol building.

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) arrested Bordeaux in Virginia and he made his first appearance in the Western District of Virginia.

Based on the court documents, Bordeaux was identified around 2:10 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, within the group of rioters on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol grounds. He was seen yelling at police while they used tear gas and other crowd control strategies.

The police body-cam footage showed Bordeaux walking the Lower West Terrace and waving at other rioters to encourage them to follow him. He was also viewed helping other rioters get closer to law enforcement that were fending off a growing crowd, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

At around 2:33 p.m., it’s alleged that Bordeaux is witnessed rushing down a set of stairs towards law enforcement. In addition, it’s alleged that he raised his fist and started hitting a police officer’s riot shield — then stepping back to hit the riot shield more times.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said one of the officers holding the riot shield used it to knock Bordeaux down, but he got back up and persisted in attacking the shield. The officer knocked him down again, but he continued. Shortly after, the crowd surged against the line of law enforcement, causing the officers to pull back.

In addition, Bordeaux later allegedly approached the entrance to a door leading to the Upper West Terrace and waived for others to help him open it.

This case is being investigated by FBI Richmond and Washington Field Offices.

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