He thrust a lacrosse stick with a Confederate flag at a police officer.
Washington DC. (KM) – A Clarksburg man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a felony charge for his role in the storming of the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021. In US District Court in Washington DC, David Blair, 27, entered a guilty plea to the charge of interfering with a law enforcement officer during the commission of a civil disorder.
The US Attorney’s Office for DC says at around 5:45 PM, Blair was in a crowd on the West Lawn of the Capitol which was ordered by DC Police to move back. Blair positioned himself between the officers and the crowd, and began walking back and forth in that space, waving a Confederate flag attached to a lacrosse stick. He told the crowd “hell naw, quit backing up, don’t be scared,” the US Attorney’s Office for Washington DC says in a news release.
When officers pushed Blair back into the crowd, he jumped back, squared himself in front of an officer, and thrust the lacrosse stick at one of the officers toward the chest areas. .
Blair was arrested on February 19th, 2021.
He’s scheduled to be sentenced on July 13th, 2022. Federal prosecutors say Blair faces up to five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.
In the 14 months since the January 6th riots the US Attorney’s Office inj DC says more than 775 individuals form nearly all 50 states have been arrested for crimes related to the breach of the Capitol; and that includes 245 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement officers.
The investigation continues. Anyone who has information is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324), or go on line and visit tips.fbi.gov.
By Kevin McManus