Source: United States Department of Justice News
Defendant Accused of Pushing Against Police in the Lower West Terrace Tunnel
WASHINGTON — A North Carolina man has been arrested on a felony charge of civil disorder and three misdemeanor charges, for his actions 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.
Alan Michael St. Onge, 35, of Brevard, NC, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with civil disorder, a felony, and the following misdemeanors: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings. He was arrested today in North Carolina and made his initial appearance in the Western District of North Carolina.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, St. Onge was seen in camera footage on the east and west sides of the U.S. Capitol and near an entrance to the U.S. Capitol building on the Lower West Terrace (“LWT”) known as “the tunnel.” Specifically, St. Onge participated in the breach of the police barricade on the east plaza of the U.S. Capitol before traveling to the LWT tunnel, which he entered and while inside, repeatedly pushed against the police line. St. Onge was located at the east plaza barricades set up around the U.S. Capitol building at approximately 1:55 p.m. Publicly available video shows St. Onge pushing against the barricades along with other rioters shortly before the police line on the east plaza was overrun.
After the police line was breached on the east side, St. Onge walked toward the southwest side of the U.S. Capitol building. Another video shows St. Onge walking toward the west front of the U.S. Capitol where numerous police officers were protecting the building. According to body-worn camera (“BWC”) footage, St. Onge was located at the police barricades during confrontations between the police and other rioters. Specifically, St. Onge is seen standing at the police line on the west front as rioters assaulted police. St. Onge then moved closer to the U.S. Capitol building after the police line on the westside was breached.
After the police were forced to retreat, St. Onge then made his was up to the LWT tunnel. He was initially located outside the entrance to the tunnel beginning at approximately 2:55 p.m. According to CCTV footage, St. Onge received a stolen U.S. Capitol Police riot shield from another member of the crowd as he stood near the mouth of the tunnel. He held that shield for a moment and then set it down in the mouth of the tunnel. He left the tunnel approximately one minute later but returned to the mouth of the tunnel for a second time at approximately 2:58 p.m.
At 3:09 p.m., St. Onge made his way further into the tunnel and joined in with the crowd’s concerted push against the police line. Specifically, CCTV footage shows St. Onge. pushing, with great effort, against other rioters in an attempt to collectively breach the police line. At approximately 3:18 p.m., the police inside the tunnel gained momentum and successfully pushed the rioters, including St. Onge, out of the tunnel.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Charlotte and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 29 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. 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.