Rioter Claimed He Dressed As Antifa To Attack Cops And Steal Gear During U.S. Capitol Riot

Washington, DC – A rioter who allegedly bragged about posing as antifa in order to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 has been arrested on multiple federal counts.

“I’m dressing all in black,” William Robert Norwood allegedly wrote in a group text on Jan. 5, according to The Washington Post. “I’ll look just like ANTIFA. I’ll get away with anything.”

According to court documents, Norwood, 37, actively participated in the riot, to include stealing a police officer’s ballistic vest.

“It worked,” Norwood allegedly texted, sharing a photo of himself wearing the vest. “I got away with things that others were shot or arrested for.”

According to court documents, Norwood claimed he “fought 4 cops” during the uprising, The Washington Post reported.

“Got a nice helmet and body armor off a cop for God’s sake and I disarmed him,” he allegedly boasted in another message.

“The cops who acted s—ty got exactly what they deserved,” Norwood texted, according to court documents. “The ones who were cool, got help.”

Investigators said he also sent messages claiming antifascists had actually been the ones who attacked police during the uprising, according to The Washington Post.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a family member who was part of the group text with Norwood showed the messages to another family member, who then ended up alerting the police.

After interviewing the family members, FBI agents sat down with Norwood on Jan. 22, according to The Washington Post.

Norwood allegedly told the agents that he and his wife traveled from South Carolina to Washington, DC to attend President Donald Trump’s rally.

According to court documents, Norwood admitted to having entered the Capitol rotunda after the agents told him they had evidence that his phone had been active in the area of the Capitol building that day, The Washington Post reported.

They also allegedly had surveillance photos showing Norwood inside the building.

He denied assaulting any of the law enforcement officers he encountered during the riot, and claimed he tried to help them, The Washington Post reported.

“Norwood claimed that two U.S. Capitol Police officers were waving people inside, and that one of the Capitol Police officers told him, ‘I’m on your side,’” the criminal complaint read.

He also allegedly told investigators that he only sent the text messages to make him “sound tough,” The Washington Post reported.

The tactical vest and helmet Norwood is accused of stealing were ultimately located in a storage trailer in Greenville, according to The Post and Courier.

He allegedly told investigators that he lied to his family about stealing them from an officer, and said he actually took them from a pile of equipment that was sitting outside the west side of the Capitol building.

Norwood was arrested at his home in Greer, South Carolina on Feb. 25 on a litany of federal charges, including theft of government property, obstruction of justice and Congress, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, The Washington Post reported.