Source: United States Department of Justice News
WASHINGTON — A Georgia man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement officers, for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 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 presidential election.
Phillip Crawford, 47, of Douglasville, Georgia, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of forcibly assaulting, resisting, or opposing law enforcement officers, and obstructing, impeding, or interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder. Crawford is also charged with misdemeanor offenses of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; and knowingly engaging in an act of violence in a restricted area or grounds.
Crawford was arrested on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, and made his initial appearance in the Northern District of Georgia.
According to court documents, based on publicly available video footage from Jan. 6, 2021, Crawford can be seen on the Capitol grounds rallying fellow rioters to charge at the lower west terrace tunnel entrance of the building, where officers were stacked to prevent entry. Court documents say that while making his way to the terrace tunnel entrance, Crawford joined fellow rioters chanting: “Pull them out!”
Court documents state that once Crawford is at the mouth of the tunnel and immediately in front of officers Crawford then throws his body into the line, indiscriminately grabbing and punching at all the officers. Crawford then grabbed an officer that lost his footing and attempted to pull the officer away from the police line. Crawford finally takes a fallen gas mask and with both hands throws it at the nearest officer to him.
This case is being prosecuted by the United States 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Field Office in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington, D.C., which identified Asbury as BOLO (“Be On the Look Out”) #122 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 30 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,069 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 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.