WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of police was bad.
Only a few dozen people have visited the U.S. Defended west of the Capitol as thousands of pro-Trump rioters turned to break into the building.
According to a video widely circulated on YouTube, a mob armed with metal pipes, pepper spray and other weapons pushed a thin line of police forward and a riotous man threw a fire truck at an officer.
“They are entering the capital tonight! They are coming inside.
They broke the line moments later, and the rioters immediately entered the building, occupied the House and Senate Chamber, and ran wild into the Statue Hall and other sacred symbols of democracy. The mob broke up, Breaking windows and waving Trump, American and Union flags. Legislators who were voting to confirm Biden’s victory if elected president were forced to hide for hours.
Throughout the melee, police officers were injured, mocked, ridiculed and threatened. A Capitol police officer, Brian Cinnicki, died Thursday night from injuries sustained during the riots. The scuffle was sparked by a crowd of supporters of President Donald Trump who have claimed his love of law enforcement and protested mass police reform that shook the nation last year after the assassination of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“We supported you guys over the summer,” a man shouted at the three officers leaning against the door as dozens of men shouted to get out of their way. “When the whole country hated you, we were behind you!”
The uproar shocked the world and forced the resignation of three top capital security officials following a failure to prevent breaches. Lawmakers have demanded a review of the operation and a briefing by the FBI on what they called a “terrorist attack.”
Sikkin was the fifth person to die as a result of Capitol violence.
A California woman has been shot dead by Capitol police, and three others have died after a “medical emergency” related to the breach, including at least one apparent heart attack.
During the conflict, a firefighter was struck in the head by a 6-year-old picnic, two law enforcement officials said, although it was not clear if he was the officer shown in the video. Officials could not discuss the ongoing investigation in public and spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Another disturbing video shows a bloody police officer screaming for help when he is crushed by rioters inside the Capitol building. The young officer is pinned between the storms ield and the metal door. Bleeding from the mouth, he screams in pain and screams, “Help!”
Other images show police completely engulfed by rioters, who entered the building, kicked and kicked. In a stunning video, a lone police officer tried to stop a crowd of protesters by breaking into the lobby. It fails.
People attacked police with pipes, sprayed and even planted live bombs in the area.
Siknik’s family said Friday that he had wanted to be a police officer all his life. He served in the New Jersey Air National Guard before joining the Capitol Police in 2008. Many details regarding the incident are unknown and Sinik’s family has urged the public and news media not to make his death a political issue.
Nevertheless, the riots – and the death of Cynic – have a new focus on capital police, A force of more than 2,300 officers and civil servants protecting the capital, legislators, staff and visitors. The agency’s annual budget is about 5 5,515 million.
Three days before the riots, the Pentagon was offered National Guard manpower. And as the mob descended on the building on Wednesday, Justice Department leaders rushed to make offers to FBI agents. He was denied both times by Capitol police, according to senior defense officials and two people familiar with the matter.
Despite possible revolts and plenty of resources and plenty of time warnings to prepare, the police only planned for free speech demonstrations.
Capidol Police, like many other agencies, has been hit hard by COVID-19, with frequent schedule changes for officers and many forced to work overtime to fill rosters. The epidemic has forced police to inaugurate the new congressional session and the January 20 presidential-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, Who resigned Thursday under pressure from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional leaders, defended his department’s response, saying officials “acted bravely when confronted with thousands of individuals involved in violent riots.” Two other top security officials, a Senate sergeant at Arms Michael Steiner and a house sergeant at Arms Paul Irving, also resigned.
As of Friday, prosecutors had sued 14 other police officers in federal district court and 40 other police officers in Columbia Superior Court for various offenses such as entering restricted areas of the U.S. Capitol, stealing federal property, and threatening legislators. Prosecutors said additional cases remained under seal, dozens of others were sought by federal agents, and the U.S. attorney in Washington vowed that “all options were on the table,” possibly for charges including possible treason.
Richard Barnett, the accused, was an Arkansas man who was seen in a photograph seen sitting in Pelosi’s office fee with boots on the desk. He also wrote a vague note to Pelosi. Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rose called Barnett’s photo a “shocking image” and “hostile.”
“Those who are found guilty of committing a crime during the capital’s riots will receive justice,” Rose said.
The West Virginia state legislator was also accused of showing his way inside a video pitol, punching a police officer and then milling around Rotunda, shouting “Our house!” MLA Derrick Evans was arrested at his home by the FBI on Friday and charged with trespassing on federal property.
“We are incredibly proud of the individual officers whose actions have saved the lives of hundreds of members of Congress and their employees,” said Gus Papathanasiu, president of the Capital Police Officers’ Union.
Once the breach of the Capitol building became inevitable, officials preferred life over property, leading people to safety, he said. No members of Congress or their staff were injured. Our officers did their job. Our leadership was not. Our law enforcement partners who helped us were significant. “
Rip, who heads a subcommittee overseeing the Capitol Police budget. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, said Friday that rank and file officers were “put in an extremely dangerous situation. And that’s really where my frustration comes from.”
Sundar and other leaders are accused of protecting legislators, “but also make sure that rank-and-file members are placed in a position where they are as safe as possible and have the support they need. And that’s clearly not the case, “said Ryan.
Pelosi ordered half-staff flags at the Capitol in honor of Sipnik.
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The report was co-authored by Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Noman Merchant in Houston and Derek Karikari in New York.
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