Virginia Man Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement and Other Charges During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

WASHINGTON - A Virginia man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including for assaulting a law enforcement officer 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 presidential election.

Nathaniel Noyce, 26, of Richmond, Virginia, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.

In addition to the felonies, Noyce is charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building or grounds.

Noyce was arrested today in Richmond, Virginia and made an initial appearance in the Eastern District of Virginia.

According to court documents, Noyce was identified in open-source video footage at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, shortly before 2:00 p.m., making his way to the east side of the building. Here, police established barricades using bicycle racks to prevent rioters from further approaching the building. Rioters in this area, however, overwhelmed police, causing police to retreat and a cascade of rioters swelled up the East Steps to the East Doors of the Capitol.

After the mob reached the East Doors, rioters assaulted law enforcement and attempted to enter the Capitol. At approximately 2:40 p.m., rioters inside the Capitol successfully pushed past police and opened the East Doors. In response, many of the rioters outside of the East Doors flooded into the U.S. Capitol over the next 50 minutes, including Noyce, who entered at approximately 3:15 p.m.

Once inside, Noyce immediately traveled through the East Foyer to the Rotunda. As he entered the Rotunda, officers attempted to physically remove rioters; however, Noyce's continued presence impeded their efforts. Court documents say that Noyce was one of the last rioters that officers removed from the Rotunda.

Noyce eventually returned to the East Foyer and continued to obstruct and impede police officers dealing with the ongoing riot. Officers around Noyce appeared to be giving directions or orders to the rioters inside. Even though he was very close to these officers and likely knew of their efforts, Noyce did not leave. Instead, he recorded the ongoing scene in the East Foyer with his cell phone.

Over the next few minutes, video footage showed that Noyce became increasingly physical with officers as he moved around the mob in the East Foyer, recording his actions. In one instance, Noyce is seen wrapping his arm around an officer at approximately 3:23 p.m. A few seconds later, he confronted a law enforcement officer and forcibly removed the officer's protective visor. Noyce then struck the officer in his face with his right hand while holding his mobile phone.

In response, a scuffle occurred between Noyce and the officer. Another rioter immediately attempted to diffuse this incident, and Noyce retreated to the mob.

Noyce remained near the U.S. Capitol and on U.S. Capitol grounds for several hours after he departed the building via the East Doors. Noyce was later seen in open-source video footage appearing with rioters near the west side of the U.S. Capitol after officers physically removed rioters from the Capitol grounds after dark.

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 Eastern District of Virginia.

The case is being investigated by the FBI's Richmond and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 39 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,359 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 500 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.