OHIO — Police arrested an Ohio man in Huntsville, Alabama Wednesday for allegedly participating in the Jan. 6 riots at Capitol Hill.
U.S. Department of Justice charged Kenneth Joseph Owen Thomas, 38, of East Liverpool, Ohio, with assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and engaging in physical violence on Capitol grounds, as well as multiple other charges.
Court documents state body camera footage from the Metropolitan Police Department caught Thomas on the Upper West Terrace that afternoon advancing toward a line of law enforcement, pushing against their shields.
"Thomas punched and struck the officers with his fist and forearm at least twice. At 4:26 p.m., officers began to dispel the crowd of rioters from the steps. Thomas turned toward rioters and ordered them to 'hold the line' against advancing officers, repeating this several times. In subsequent interviews, law enforcement officers confirmed the attack and stated the individual 'was one of the first to come in and start hitting [and] pushing officers on the line,'" according to the Justice Department.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, who identified Thomas as #214 on their seeking information photos.
More than 250 federal cases have been brought against individuals who allegedly took part in or helped plot the deadly Jan. 6. More than 125 individuals have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. Now, more than a dozen of those cases are against Ohio residents.
Other Ohio residents facing charges include:
- Troy Faulkner of Columbus, Ohio
- Stephen Ayres of northeast Ohio
- Dustin Thompson of Columbus, Ohio
- Robert Lyon of Columbus, Ohio
- Christine Priola of Cleveland, Ohio
- Justin Stoll of southwest Ohio
- James Horning of southwest Ohio
- Donovan Crowl of Champaign County, Ohio
- Jessica Watkins of Champaign County, Ohio
- Sandra Parker of southwest Ohio
- Bennie Parker of southwest Ohio
- John Wright of Canton, Ohio
- Clifford Mackrell of Lorain, Ohio
At least four Ohioans charged with the breach had links to the anti-government militia group the Oath Keepers. In most cases defendants are charged with entering the Capitol illegally and engaging in violent and destructive conduct while there. Some defendants remain behind bars, while others are free pending upcoming hearings.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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