(CNN) — A former NFL linebacker was arrested on Thursday and charged with assaulting legislation enforcement in the course of the January 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol, based on court docket data.
Antwione Williams, 31, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2016 and later performed for the XFL’s DC Defenders, now a part of the UFL, is alleged to be among the many first rioters to breach the restricted perimeter of the Capitol in the course of the assault, based on a legal criticism in opposition to him by the US Lawyer’s Workplace in Washington, DC.
“Williams pushed by a bunch of rioters that shaped … and attacked and overcame the U.S. Capitol Cops,” based on the criticism.
Prosecutors allege that Williams participated in violent confrontations with legislation enforcement as a part of a mob, and was recorded on police physique digital camera footage pulling bike racks from police and putting an officer on the pinnacle, based on the criticism.
He was additionally allegedly seen on open-source video lunging at an officer who was “deploying spray to stop rioters from taking one of many bike racks” getting used to carry again the group, the doc says. Williams later “grabbed and pushed two officers” as rioters had been attempting to shove previous police strains, based on the criticism.
In December 2022, the FBI acquired a tip that led them to the previous linebacker after sharing photographs of people that breached the Capitol. Brokers confirmed his identification by evaluating riot photographs with photographs from his social media account, based on the criticism.
When he was arrested, Williams had a purple key fob for a Chevrolet car hanging from his waist which appeared to match a fob seen on Williams’ belt loop in the course of the riot, investigators mentioned. There’s additionally image on his Instagram account displaying him carrying the identical Golf hat he wore on the capitol on January sixth, based on the criticism.
Williams was arrested in Savannah, Georgia, on Thursday and is dealing with a number of prices, together with assaulting and impeding officers, civil dysfunction, coming into restricted grounds and disorderly conduct inside a Capitol constructing, court docket paperwork present.
Williams didn’t enter a plea Thursday throughout his preliminary court docket look in Savannah. He was launched on bond and could have his subsequent court docket look on Nov. 21 in Washington.
The legal professional who represented Williams in court docket advised CNN he was unavailable for remark Friday.
“After rioters retook the West Plaza, Williams joined in chants of ‘U.S.A.!’ and pumped his fists over his head,” the criticism says. “Williams took a couple of minutes to deal with the consequences of getting been sprayed throughout that push, however finally made his method to the Decrease West Terrace.”
The January 6 assault resulted in over 140 law enforcement officials being assaulted, in addition to damages exceeding $2.8 million, the US Lawyer’s workplace in DC mentioned final week.
Greater than 1,561 folks in almost all 50 states have been federally charged in reference to the assault, greater than 590 of them for assaulting legislation enforcement or obstructing these officers throughout a civil dysfunction, based on the workplace of the US Lawyer for the District of Columbia. About 979 defendants have pleaded responsible and 210 have been convicted at trial.
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