Assault On Police At Capitol Jan. 6 Brings Felony Charges For VA Man

SPRINGFIELD, VA — A Springfield man was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges for assaulting law enforcement officers, entering the floor of the U.S. Senate chamber and destroying media equipment during the Jan. 6, 2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced Tuesday.

Joseph Brody, 23, was charged in a criminal complaint with assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers, causing bodily injury, interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, and obstruction of an official proceeding, all felony offenses.

Brody was arrested on Sept. 15 in Springfield and made his initial appearance in a D.C. court later that day. He was released pending further court proceedings.

This case against Brody is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

Four other defendants also face misdemeanor charges: Thomas Carey, 21, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Gabriel Chase, 22, of Gainesville, Florida; Jon Lizak, 21, of Cold Spring Harbor, New York; and Paul Ewald Lovley, 23, of Halethorpe, Maryland. Carey and Lizak were arrested on Sept. 15, while Lovley was arrested on Monday and Chase was arrested on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Federal investigators say all five men are associated with the far-right group America First, NBC News reported Tuesday.

The Justice Department said the leadership of America First “has espoused a belief that they are defending against the demographic and cultural changes in America.” Members of the group are commonly referred to as “Groypers," according to NBC News.

In the 20 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 870 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 265 people charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

According to court documents, all five defendants communicated with one another in advance of the riots, and eventually illegally entered the Capitol as a group at about 2:16 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021. They moved throughout different levels, corridors, and rooms of the Capitol, including the office and conference room of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the criminal complaint said.

Brody also entered the floor of the U.S. Senate chamber, where he filmed or photographed the desks of U.S. senators, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

After about 35 minutes, the group left the building and moved to the north end of the Capitol, where they witnessed the breach of the north door, officials said. Brody helped another rioter in using a metal barricade against a U.S. Capitol Police officer, knocking the officers back as he attempted to secure the north door.

Brody and Chase also participated in the destruction of media equipment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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