An Arizona man, David Caleb Crosby, 35, of Phoenix, was arrested Tuesday and charged with assaulting law enforcement officers and other offenses related to his alleged actions during the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach. The incident disrupted a joint session of Congress convened to certify the 2020 presidential election results.
Charges Against Crosby
Crosby faces several charges, including:
- Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers
- Entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds
- Engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds
- Disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds
- Engaging in an act of physical violence on Capitol grounds
The FBI arrested Crosby in Phoenix, and he will make his initial court appearance in the District of Arizona.
Alleged Actions During the Capitol Breach
According to court documents, Crosby confronted police on the Capitol’s Lower West Plaza, repeatedly ramming his back and body into bike racks that served as barricades for law enforcement.
Video evidence shows Crosby ignoring officers’ commands to back up, even as they deployed chemical irritants in an attempt to repel him. Despite being directly sprayed, Crosby allegedly continued to push against the police line, encouraging other rioters to do the same.
Crosby’s actions were stopped only when Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers pulled him over the barricades and detained him.
Investigation and Prosecution
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with support from the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. The FBI’s Phoenix and Washington Field Offices, along with the U.S. Capitol Police and MPD, contributed to the investigation.
Crosby was identified as “AFO #248” (Assault on Federal Officer) in FBI photos distributed to the public.
Jan. 6 Capitol Breach: Ongoing Investigation
Since January 6, 2021, more than 1,572 individuals from nearly all 50 states have been charged in connection with the Capitol riot. Over 590 of those have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony.
The investigation into the events of January 6 remains ongoing, as authorities continue to identify and prosecute individuals involved.