Sandy MaloneWashington, DC – Horrific video released over the weekend of the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday showed a DC police officer being dragged and beaten with sticks, crutches, and an American flag as protesters chanted “USA.”
The chaos erupted at about 12:40 p.m. on Jan. 6 when the first wave of protesters arrived at the Capitol, The Washington Post reported.
A group of about 8,000 supporters of President Donald Trump marched down Pennsylvania Avenue moments after the President issued a message of support on the Ellipse.
There were 1,400 U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers on duty when the riot began, The Washington Post reported.
Rioters breached the outer perimeter on the west side of the Capitol in less than 15 minutes, according to The Washington Post.
“As soon as they hit the fence line, the fight was on,” USCP Chief Steven Sund said. “Violent confrontations from the start. They came with riot helmets, gas masks, shields, pepper spray, fireworks, climbing gear — climbing gear! — explosives, metal pipes, baseball bats. I have never seen anything like it in 30 years of events in Washington.”
Chief Sund said videos showed rioters tore down the barrier fence around the Capitol and threw at police officers’ heads, The Washington Post reported.
“I realized at 1 p.m., things aren’t going well,” Chief Sund said. “I’m watching my people getting slammed.”
The Capitol Police chief called the DC police for help, and DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Robert Contee immediately sent 100 officers to back them up, The Washington Post reported.
Chief Sund said he called the sergeants at arms for the House and Senate at 1:09 p.m. and asked them to call in the National Guard.
Rioters breached the entrance of the Capitol building at 1:59 p.m.
A horrific video from the scene showed rioters attacking police officers who were guarding an entrance to the building.
Here’s a video of an officer being dragged down the steps and beaten. The people who did this are animals and I hope they’re locked in a cage for the rest of their lives. If video like this doesn’t enrage you, we aren’t on the same side.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) January 10, 2021
The video showed a rioter in a white baseball cap and backpack pulling a DC police officer in riot gear to the ground.
Then other rioters grabbed the downed officer and dragged him down the stairs of the Capitol as they beat him with sticks, flag poles, and even a metal crutch, the video showed.
The rioters also appeared to stomp on the officer, who was face-down on the steps.
Another angle appears to show the same altercation with the police officer face down. Horrific. pic.twitter.com/fponhdu0rf
— Caleb Hull (I'm With the CCP Don't Ban Me) (@CalebJHull) January 10, 2021
DC police have not identified the officers featured in those videos.
The rioters could be seen deploying pepper spray on officers who tried to hold them back.
Numerous pictures and videos posted to social media showed rioters trashing Congressional offices and briefly taking over the House chamber.
One woman was fatally shot by a plainclothes U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officer after she breached the Capitol and tried to enter the House chamber, CBS News reported.
The rioters stopped the certification of the Electoral College votes as the building was evacuated.
A 42-year-old Capitol Police officer died on Thursday from injuries suffered at the hands of the rioters.
USCP Officer Brian Sicknick collapsed at his division office after he was “injured while physically engaging with protesters” at the Capitol Building on Jan. 6, the USCP said in a press release.
The department did not elaborate on the injuries he suffered, but two law enforcement officials said he was hit with a fire extinguisher as rioters stormed through the halls of Congress and lawmakers hid beneath their desks, The New York Times reported.
More than 18 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and eventually the National Guard, assisted in bringing the violence under control on Wednesday.
Holly Matkin
