Jarod Hawks, 43, of Port Orange, and John Padgett, 40, of Edgewater, were arrested today on multiple felony charges, including assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, for their alleged actions during the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach. Their alleged conduct disrupted a joint session of Congress convened to certify the electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election.
The men are charged with assaulting federal officers, civil disorder, and assault with a deadly or dangerous weapon. They also face five misdemeanor charges, including entering and remaining in a restricted building, engaging in physical violence in restricted areas, and obstructing passage within Capitol grounds.
According to court documents, CCTV footage, open-source videos, and public tips identified Hawks and Padgett among rioters on January 6. The pair allegedly participated in the initial breach at the Peace Circle, where law enforcement officers were injured. They then moved to the police line on the Capitol’s West Front, where they used a large metal object to attack officers.
Hawks and Padgett also allegedly kicked a bike rack barricade held by police, ultimately causing officers to lose control. After the barricade was breached, they reportedly moved additional barricades to clear the way for other rioters. Later, they allegedly used a large object as a shield and battering ram against another police line.
The FBI arrested both men in Florida. They are set to make their initial appearances in the Middle District of Florida.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. The FBI’s Jacksonville and Washington Field Offices, along with the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department, conducted the investigation.
Since the events of January 6, 2021, over 1,561 individuals across nearly all 50 states have been charged with crimes related to the Capitol breach, including more than 590 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit tips at tips.fbi.gov.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.