High School Football

West Virginia man in motorcycle helmet is accused of repeatedly head-butting Capitol police on Jan. 6, 2021

A West Virginia man faces federal charges based on his activities at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, including allegations that he headbutted police officers while wearing a motorcycle helmet.

Joseph Michael Adams, 41, of Hedgesville was arrested Tuesday. He is one of several West Virginians who have faced charges for their actions in nearby Washington, D.C., on the day Congress was meant to certify presidential election results.

Adams is charged with a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.

He is also charged with misdemeanor offenses of entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in an act of physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds, engaging in an act of physical violence in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

Adams has an initial appearance in federal court at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 12 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh of the D.C. Circuit. The hearing will be conducted by video teleconference.

Documents filed in federal court allege that Adams entered the Capitol building at 3:01 p.m. that day while wearing a motorcycle helmet and carrying an American flag on a flagpole.

About the same time, law enforcement officers in the building had verbally commanded the crowd to leave the building.

About 3:02 p.m., federal prosecutors allege, Adams entered the Rotunda area and resisted police efforts to clear the area of rioters.

Court documents cite body-worn camera footage as the basis of allegations that Adams resisted police attempts to push back the rioters in the Rotunda. About 2:04 p.m., the court documents say, a police officer pushed Adams, and, in response Adams lowered his head and braced himself to resist being pushed further.

About 3:05 p.m., police again attempted to push Adams back. At that point, Adams is accused of lowering his head and forcibly pushing back against police.

This body cam image in federal court documents allegedly shows Joseph Michael Adams of West Virginia pushing against a Capitol police officer with his motorcycle helmet.

Prosecutors contend Adams then moved to his right and continued to use his head to push against another police officer. About 3:06 p.m., Adams stepped back, creating space between himself and the line of police officers. He then continued to lower his head and hold the flagpole in front of him while facing police. That all happened as officers commanded the rioters to get back, according to the court documents.

About 3:07 p.m., according to court documents, Adams moved closer to the center of the Rotunda, held up his fist and yelled “We are the people. We are the voice. We are the country.”

Prosecutors allege that Adams again used his head to push against police and repeatedly ignored commands to leave the area. Instead, prosecutors say, Adams approached another police officer, lowered his shoulder and forcibly pushed the officer with his shoulder. The prosecutors contend that Adams continued to push against this police officer with his shoulder, head and flagpole.

A couple of times, according to court documents, other civilians who entered the Capitol appear to pull Adams away from the police confrontations.

Adams left the building about 3:16 p.m. through the Rotunda doors. “Before exiting, Adams looked in the direction of rioters gathered outside the Rotunda Doors and raised his flag,” according to the federal court filings.

Federal investigators have spent time since then seeking information about Adams’ cellular telephone information and email to lead to his identity. This past Sept. 3, an FBI special agent conducted physical surveillance and observed Adams at his home address as part of the work to identify him.

The mob storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 disrupted the constitutional duty of counting Electoral College votes and prompted the evacuations of representatives, senators and then-Vice President Mike Pence. One woman was fatally shot while trying to climb into the chambers, three others died from “medical emergencies” and more than 100 police officers were injured..

In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Former President Donald Trump, again the Republican nominee for the presidential election that culminates next week, has been calling Jan. 6, 2021, “a day of love” and saying he would pardon participants charged with crimes, referring to them as patriots or the “J6 hostages.” 





More News

News
Remains of Korean Conflict veteran identified as Grafton native
U.S. Army Corporal Howard Godwin Jr was from Grafton.
November 2, 2024 - 1:14 pm
News
Huntington police investigate fatal hit and run
No arrests have been made.
November 2, 2024 - 11:37 am
News
Power companies refile a rate increase request with two possibilities for PSC to consider
The request would increase electricity costs for customers, although the power companies submitted two rate structures for the PSC to consider, suggesting options could soften the blow.
November 2, 2024 - 11:18 am
News
Cross Lanes Child Care apologizes after former worker charged with assault, battery
Statement says those overseeing facility are "deeply disappointed."
November 2, 2024 - 9:45 am