A former Green Beret wearing a tactical vest struck an officer in the face with a flagpole he was wielding like a spear during the Capitol riot, according to new court filings from the government and the F.B.I. Jeffrey McKellop, who was arrested on Wednesday and accused of shoving, pushing or violently striking several officers, is the first known Capitol rioter to have served in the elite Special Operations division of the military. During the Jan. 6 riot, he carried a flagpole with at least two types of flags: a “thin blue line” flag, which is generally used to signal support for the police, and a 13-star Betsy Ross flag with the words “Trump. Keep America Great” printed on it, the F.B.I. “Notably, the defendant came prepared for battle.”As he stormed the Capitol, they wrote, Mr. McKellop wore a helmet, goggles and a gas mask.

Source: New York Times March 19, 2021 22:17 UTC