Finksburg man busted in Colorado for assaulting Police Officers during January 6 Capitol Riot
A Maryland man was arrested yesterday for assaulting law enforcement officers and a member of the news media during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. His and others’ actions disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Rodney Kenneth Milstreed, 55, of Finksburg, Maryland, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon, civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, simple assault, and related offenses. Milstreed was arrested in Brighton, Colorado, and was making his initial appearance on May 24 in the District of Colorado.
According to court documents, on January 6, Milstreed advanced through a crowd of rioters illegally on Capitol grounds, towards Capitol Police officers on the front steps of the Upper West Plaza. At approximately 1:10 p.m., Milstreed picked up what appeared to be a flagpole and threw it, javelin-style, in the direction of the officers, striking one officer. As events continued that day, a law enforcement officer picked up what appeared to be a smoke grenade off the ground and threw it towards the crowd of rioters. Milstreed ran towards the smoke grenade, picked it up, and launched it back towards law enforcement officers.
According to the documents, Milstreed also assaulted a member of the news media who was wearing a lanyard displaying credentials and carrying at least one camera and a backpack. Milstreed grabbed the backpack and pulled the member of the media backwards down the stairs. He then shoved the victim and advanced towards him in a threatening way.
Social media records showed that Milstreed communicated with others while he was at the U.S. Capitol grounds. Among other things, he sent photos of blood on the floor in what appears to be the Upper West Plaza and then later added, “Man I’ve never seen anything like this. I feel so alive.” Three days later, on January 9, 2021, Milstreed messaged a Facebook associate to describe his participation in the violence and his intention to “crack some heads” while he was there.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Denver Field Office, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Milstreed as #156 on its seeking information photos, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Capitol Police.
In the 16 months since January 6, 2021, more than 800 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 250 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
(Source and Images: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
