Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Man ‘fought police officers twice’ during Capitol Riot and still wasn’t arrested that day, court documents show

Arrest log from Garrett County in western Maryland shows that Mr Egtvedt was later arrested but also released on 13 February

Gustaf Kilander
Washington, DC
Wednesday 17 February 2021 21:47 GMT
Comments
Related video: Trump lawyers refuse to answer repeated questions on when he knew about Capitol riots

An affidavit filed against Capitol rioter Daniel Egtvedt shows that he fought an entire room of police, was removed from the scene then returned and injured officers a second time, left once more and returned a third time to fight with police yet again - and still wasn't arrested that day.

HuffPost justice reporter Ryan Reilly chronicled Mr Egtvedt's meetings with prominent people in former President Trump's inner circle, including posing for pictures with former Vice President Mike Pence, Lara Trump, wife of Eric Trump, and Texas Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw.

Social media screenshots show that Mr Egtvedt believed in the lie pushed by Mr Trump that the election was stolen.

Months before assaulting officers, Mr Egtvedt posted messages and images on social media in support of law enforcement.

An arrest log from Garrett County in western Maryland shows that Mr Egtvedt was later arrested but also released on 13 February.

According to the affidavit, which is in support of a criminal complaint, Mr Egtvedt tried to walk further into the Capitol building "in the direction of the Rotunda," when he was stopped by law enforcement who ordered him to leave the area.

Mr Egtvedt took part in a live stream by alt-right troll “Baked Alaska” during the riot, in which Mr Egtvedt said: “Everyone that’s outside, tell them to get in here now," adding that they “shot me in the eyes twice," also saying that “everybody, if you’re seeing this, come down here now. We’re not backing away, this is our house.”

Mr Egtvedt ended his live stream appearance by yelling that members of Congress should “grow a spine or f****** resign".

One officer described Mr Egtvedt as “generally non-compliant, screaming, and incoherent," and added that he was yelling “at the top of his lungs".

Read more: Follow live updates on the Biden Administration and the Trump post-presidency

Mr Egtvedt "resisted and violently flailed his arms at officers as they attempted to subdue him". Five officers tried to hold him back as Mr Egtvedt tried to charge at one of the law enforcement officials. One MPD officer then tried to grab Mr Egtvedt to stop him from going forward.

As officers tried to push him away from one of the law enforcement officials, another official fell against a column, injuring his right shoulder. After he hit the column, Mr Egtvedt "appeared to grab at his neck," the affidavit says.

As he was being walked out of the building, Mr Egtvedt fell to the ground. Officers tried to pick him up and finally get him out of the building, but he resisted and fought with officers to get back to where he had been.

One officer had to hold on "for dear life" due to Mr Egtvedt size as officers tried to physically get him out of the building.

Mr Egtvedt was finally "walked down an exterior ramp outside of the south entrance door," where he spent several minutes pacing back and forth and yelling at law enforcement.

He was removed from the building at around 3.14pm after first being observed on Capitol grounds at 2.47pm, according to the affidavit.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in