North Texas ‘Proud Boy’ charged with assaulting officers in Jan. 6 breach of U.S. Capitol
A Dallas County man has been arrested and faces charges connected with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, officials said.
Steve Saxiones of Cedar Hill was arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents Wednesday, according to a Department of Justice news release. The 46-year-old is allegedly a member of the Proud Boys organization and has been accused of assaulting law enforcement officers at the Capitol.
The afternoon of Jan. 6, 2021, law enforcement officers set up a barricade using bike racks on the lower West Plaza of the Capitol and deployed tear gas in an effort to keep a group of rioters away from the building.
Court documents state that one of the rioters, later identified as Saxiones, repeatedly tried to push against the barricade and threw his weight into the police line, according to the release. He eventually moved to the end of one of the barricades and allegedly lunged forward and wrapped his arms around one of the officers.
Other officers responded, and Saxiones was arrested at the Capitol. At that time, he was released without being charged, the release said.
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Court records say Saxiones communicated with other Proud Boys members about travel plans and logistical details in the days leading up to the Capitol riot, according to the release.
“I’m thinking of carrying a IIIA Kevlar vest I have it has more coverage than my plate carrier and it’s lighter I’m also flying AA,” Saxiones wrote in an instant messaging group discussion.
He also posted a photo of himself with a black face covering in a message about concealing his appearance, the release said.
Saxiones has been charged with the felony offenses of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and assault on a federal officer, according to the release.
He’s also been charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds, act of physical violence in the grounds or any of the Capitol buildings, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, act of physical violence in a restricted building or grounds and knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority.
The investigation into the Capitol riot is ongoing, and more than 1,300 people have been charged with crimes related to the incident. More than 480 of those people were charged with assaulting or impeding a law enforcement officer, according to the release.
Anyone with tips related to the breach of the Capitol can call the FBI at 1-800-225-5324 or visit tips.fbi.gov.
