Ohio Man Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement and Other Charges During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON — An Ohio man has been arrested for assaulting law enforcement and other charges during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

            Cleophus Dulaney, 63, of Columbus, Ohio, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.

            In addition to the felonies, Dulaney is charged with multiple misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in the Capitol grounds or buildings, act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.

            Dulaney was arrested by the FBI today in Columbus and will make his initial appearance in the Southern District of Ohio.

            According to court documents, Dulaney was identified in an open-source video among a crowd of rioters gathered to the West of the U.S. Capitol building around the Peace Monument on Jan. 6, 2021. At about 12:50 p.m., rioters bypassed the first line of barricades and approached a second line of barricades that were manned by uniformed U.S. Capitol Police Officers.

            The second line of barricades was constructed of metal bike rack barriers, physically linked end to end, and reinforced with dark-colored plastic mesh safety fencing behind the metal bike racks. The fence was clearly marked with large white "AREA CLOSED" with bold red lettering clearly marked the fence.

            Upon approaching the barricades, the crowd, with Dulaney at the front, immediately became confrontational with the officers in the area. The crowd pushed and pulled on the barricades as the now vastly outnumbered officers attempted to keep the crowd back. At about 12:54 p.m., rioters broke through the barricades, driving the bike racks directly into the police officers. One officer was driven to the ground and suffered a concussion. Another officer was pressed down under the barricade and struggled to avoid being pulled out into the mob. With the police officers under attack, Dulaney, for his part, picked up and moved a metal bike rack to the side, opening a pathway for the mob behind him to surge forward.

            As the crowd surged forward, officers retreated towards the building, and Dulaney and the crowd of rioters approached another line of barricades. The crowd quickly broke through, allowing the mob to move forward and flood the West Plaza. Dulaney remained at the front of the mob as the crowd chanted "USA USA USA!" and "OUR HOUSE!"

            At about 1:35 p.m., court documents say that the situation between the rioters and police began to escalate. At one point, Dulaney charged forward as the rioters fought to obtain control of a bike rack. He reached over several rioters and grabbed the top of the barricade that was now raised in the air and, with the aid of his fellow rioters, pushed the barricade into the police officers.

            As Dulaney and the rioters forcefully pushed the bike rack forward, the bike rack made physical contact with several officers. After the mele, Dulaney continued to watch as rioters attacked police officers and, eventually, broke through the police line.

            The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio provided valuable assistance.

            The FBI's Cincinnati and Washington Field Offices are investigating this case. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.

            In the 37 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,313 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 469 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

            A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.