James City County man arrested in connection with Capitol riot
Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Norfolk field office arrested a James City County man Tuesday in connection with the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6.
Paul Russell Johnson, 35, was charged with inflicting bodily injury on certain officers, obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, obstruction of justice and Congress, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds and acts of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings
Johnson was arrested at his home in Lanexa, according to a news release. He was on a “capitol violence” FBI Most Wanted list.
The criminal complaint against Johnson was unsealed Wednesday, the release said. He appeared in court the same day for the first time.
Video footage shows Johnson assaulting a U.S. Capitol Police officer on Jan. 6 and “engaging in disorderly conduct,” the release said.
The video, reviewed by the FBI, allegedly showed Johnson walking and “forcibly” moving past two sets of barricades. Officials said he walked over a barricade off Peace Circle, and tugged on the second line of barricades, causing an officer to fall. The officer hit her head on the stairs and lost consciousness, the release said.
The officer collapsed hours later as she attempted to arrest another rioter, and was taken to an emergency room. The release said she suffered a concussion. It is unclear whether the concussion was caused by her encounter with Johnson.
Johnson is allegedly seen on video running up the stairs onto “restricted grounds” after making it past the second barricade, the release said.
In a video posted on YouTube, the release said Johnson recited what happened earlier that day. He allegedly told the person filming the number of barricades there were, how he and others breached the second wing and that they fought with officers.
The Washington Field Office for the FBI along with U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department are investigating the case.
Anyone with information can call 1-800-CALL-FBI.