Chicago police officer arrested for role in Capitol riot
A Chicago police officer was arrested on Friday in connection to the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Karol Chwiesiuk, 29, allegedly entered Sen. Jeff Merkley’s (D-Ore.) office during the riot; he has been charged with five misdemeanor counts, including disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds with intent to impede congressional proceeding, entering a restricted building and disrupting government business.
A complaint filed in U.S. District Court alleges that Chwiesiuk sent text messages to a friend two days before the riot saying, “Busy planning how to [expletive] up commies.”
The complaint also says that Chwiesiuk was seen in photos wearing a Chicago Police Department hoodie and that his cellphone location was traced near the Capitol that day. Prosecutors pointed to text messages sent from his phone.
“We inside the capital lmfao,” one text allegedly read, according to the Tribune.
A person texting Chwiesiuk told him that he had seen guns drawn inside the building.
“Yeah I was there,” he allegedly replied.
Chwiesiuk has served with the Chicago Police Department since 2018. His lawyer, Tim Grace, reportedly said during the hearing that he also served as a Cook County sheriff’s deputy previously.
Chwiesiuk appeared before the court on Friday afternoon. He has reportedly been placed on desk duty this week and has been stripped of his other duties as an officer.
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