Man facing federal charges in attack on Capitol officer who suffered concussion

Federal charges have been filed against a man who allegedly took part in the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, with prosecutors accusing him of attacking a police officer who suffered a concussion.

CNN reports that Ryan Stephen Samsel was arrested in Pennsylvania on Saturday. He has been charged with forcibly assaulting a police officer, attempting to obstruct a police officer and obstructing an official proceeding, according to the network.

“In the process of pushing the barricades to the ground, SAMSEL and others knocked over (a) U.S. Capitol Police Officer … as the crowd lifted the barricades up and pushed toward the Capitol, causing (the officer’s) head to hit the stairs behind her, resulting in a loss of consciousness,” stated court documents obtained by CNN.

The officer, who blacked out, was taken to a hospital, where it was determined she had a concussion.

Samsel was reportedly identified through footage in which he is seen wearing a jean jacket and a red “Make America Great Again” hat often worn by supporters of former President Trump. A crowd stormed the Capitol after Trump spoke to them on Jan. 6, temporarily delaying Congress’s certification of President Biden’s win. 

CNN reports that investigators found Samsel had a criminal history prior to the Capitol breach. He is currently out on parole from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, and there is also a warrant out for his arrest in New Jersey for another alleged assault in 2019, according to the network.

In January, it was reported that federal investigators were looking into more than 400 potential suspects connected to the Capitol riot.

“If a crime was committed, we are going to track that person down and they will be charged,” Michael Sherwin, the acting U.S. attorney for D.C., told reporters at the time.

CNN noted that more than 175 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol riot.