Another Colorado man has been arrested and faces federal charges after authorities said he joined with other rioters in pushing a large metal sign in police defending the United States Capitol on January 6, according to court documents.
Thomas Patrick Hamner, 48, from Peyton was arrested in Colorado Springs and charged with committing physical violence in a restricted building, civil unrest and assaulting, resisting or preventing certain officers with a dangerous weapon, among others charges.
Hamner is one of many Colorado residents who were charged with federal crimes in the January 6 riot, including former Olympic swimmer Klete Keller. Keller pleaded guilty in September to a single count of obstructing Congress and faces 21 to 27 months in prison under his plea agreement.
According to court documents, video footage shows Hamner fighting with police at around 1 p.m. alongside a crowd of violent rioters who gathered on the west side of the U.S. Capitol. Using bicycle racks, police formed a barrier in an attempt to prevent crowds from entering the building.
Hamner was seen wearing a black helmet and a black sweater decorated with white guns with the message printed: “Guns don’t kill people, Clintons do,” according to screenshots included in court documents.
The rioters used their hands, ropes and straps to try to knock down the bike racks and break through the barrier, court documents show. At around 1:40 p.m., Hamner and others pushed a large Trump metal sign into police lined up to defend the Capitol.
During its investigation, the FBI found a Telegram account with a profile photo that showed Hamner near the Washington Monument, wearing the same sweater. Authorities also identified Hamner through a review of a Colorado Springs restaurant he created on Facebook, court documents show.
Hamner’s lawyer Jennifer Beck did not immediately return a request for comment.
Since the January 6 riot, more than 675 people in almost all 50 states have been arrested on charges related to the Capitol violation.
Last week, Colorado Springs’ Glenn Wes Lee Croy – who told a judge he was “guilty of being an idiot” for entering the Capitol twice on Jan.6 – was sentenced to 90 days in prison. residence.
Authorities continue to investigate.
