Montgomery County Police Officer charged with assaulting law enforcement during Jan. 6 Capitol Breach
A Maryland man has been indicted on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement officers, for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Justin Lee, 25, of Rockville, Maryland, who at the time of the Capitol riot was an officer with the Montgomery County Police Department in Mongomery County, Maryland, is charged in a seven-count indictment unsealed on October 19 in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.
Lee made local headlines earlier this year for fatally shooting a stabbing suspect. The Montgomery County Police Department reported that it has suspended Lee without pay and is “taking steps to terminate his employment” after his indictment on felony charges, according to The Associated Press.
In addition to the felonies, Lee is charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including 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, and act of physical violence in the capitol grounds or buildings.
According to court papers, on January 6, 2021, Lee forcibly assaulted a law enforcement officer and obstructed, impeded, or interfered with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder. Lee is also accused of entering and remaining in the U.S. Capitol grounds while the Vice President was and would be temporarily visiting without lawful authority to do so and engaging in disruptive conduct, physical violence, and disorderly conduct while on restricted grounds of the Capitol.
Lee was arrested on October 19 in Washington, D.C. His case is being investigated by the FBI’s Baltimore and Washington Field Offices, which identified Lee as BOLO AFO (Be on the Lookout Assault on Federal Officer) #533 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 33 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 400 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
For more on Justin Lee’s story, see the video accompanying this article.
–
(Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia)
(Justin Lee cover photo, Image credit: FBI)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
