A New York man is accused of assaulting a Metropolitan police officer and taking his license plate and radio ‘by force’ during the January riot at the US Capitol.
According to the federal authorities, the officer, who is identified in court documents as MF, assisted the Capitol police on January 6 when a riot drew him into a crowd where he looted a license plate, radio and 17 ” and is robbed “. -magazine.
The rioters also tried to “pull” the officer’s gun out of his holster, but were unsuccessful according to a criminal charge.
“While a riot was trying to get Officer MF’s gun, Officer MF heard him shouting words that he was going to take Officer MF’s gun and kill it,” the complaint reads.
During the altercation, the officer turned black and was later taken to a hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Photos released by authorities show a hole in the officer’s tactical vest where his badge was ‘forcibly ripped out’. The attack was captured on his body camera and shows someone grabbing the officer and pulling out his badge and radio.
Authorities identified the person in the video as Thomas F. Sibick, of Buffalo, New York.
Sibick is accused of knowingly entering a restricted building, using violent access or disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, obstructing law enforcement, assaulting or obstructing certain officers and taking anything of value by force.
According to the complaint, Sibick took the license plate and radio back to Buffalo and buried the license plate in his backyard.
The document states that FBI agents spoke to someone who said Sibick posted an Instagram video of himself during the riot. In the footage, he said he was tear gas, but “we’re going, baby, we’re going.
He later posted a Facebook of himself with a shield belonging to a Capitol police officer, according to the complaint.
In a Jan. 27 interview with FBI agents, officials said Sibick admitted he was at the Capitol on the day of the riot and described how two Metropolitan police officers were attacked. He added that a group tried to get one of the officer’s weapons and threatened the officer to kill the officer.
According to the document, Sibick said he went to help the officer.
“Sibick said that he tried to reach the officer to pull him away, but that he could not reach him and at that point he feared for his life and that of the officer. Sibick further stated that he was due to the violence has decided to go away, “reads the complaint.
During the same interview, he told agents that the shield of the Capitol police officer was being led by the crowd and he took a photo with it.
Agents conducted a follow-up interview with Sibick on February 23 after identifying him in the video camera of the police body.
“Sibick said he intervened to try to help the officer, and that he remembered the badge came off when he grabbed him. Sibick said he pressed the ‘orange emergency button’ as soon as he had the radio for help. for the officer, ”reads the complaint.
Sibick initially told agents he dropped the badge and radio and left the Capitol, but later said he took the items back to Buffalo where he threw the radio away and buried the badge in his yard. His lawyer, Alexander Anzalone, declined to comment.
Sibick was arrested and later released at his father’s home after appearing in federal court, according to NBC affiliate WGRZ.
