CAPITOL OFFENSE
RETIRED CHESTER FIREFIGHTER CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING COPS IN D.C. INSURRECTION
Robert Sanford, a retired Chester firefighter arrested for lobbing a fire extinguisher at police during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, is “living a nightmare,” his defense attorney said Thursday.
The 55-year-old Boothwyn man is being held without bail at a Lehigh County jail after being charged with felony crimes after federal authorities identifed him as the bearded man in a “CFD” hat videoed as hurling a red fire extinguisher at police during the melee in Washington.
Some reports have connected that fire extinguisher as the one that led to the death of 42-yearold U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. During the riots, Sicknick was struck in the head by a fire extinguisher. Later that day, Sicknick returned to his division office and collapsed. The officer died the next day after being taken to a local hospital. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has an active homicide investigation ongoing related to Sicknick’s death.
Enrique Latoison, Sanford’s attorney, emphatically denied that Sanford’s actions on Jan. 6 led to the death of Sicknick.
“It’s been misreported,” Latoison said. “I know for a fact that the officer that was hit with the extinguisher was not injured.”
Latoison said the officer who was hit went back to work at the riots after being hit.
“My understanding is that the fire extinguisher was empty,” the attorney said.
When asked why Sanford allegedly would throw the extinguisher, Latoison said he would not confirm Sanford threw it, but said, in general, people do get caught up in the heat of the moment
in such situations.
“It’s the same thing that takes place when people get involved in a mob mentality,” the attorney said, adding that his client is not part of any extremist group and the last time he was in the nation’s capital was when he was 13 years old.
“He went there for a peaceful protest,” Latoison said. “He went to support the president. The president says, ‘Hey, go down to the Capitol building.’” Sanford went.
On Thursday morning, Sanford was arrested and charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers while engaged in the performance of official duties; knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly or disruptive conduct on Capitol grounds; and civil disorder.
He was denied bail and sent to Lehigh County because the Philadelphia federal prison was full, his attorney said.
Latoison said the 26-year firefighter has never had any brushes with the law until now.
“He’s never been arrested, never been in trouble,” the attorney said. “He’s living a nightmare right now.”
Latoison said Sanford’s next hearing yet to be scheduled will take place in Washington.
Sanford retired from the Chester Fire Department Dec. 26, 2019. He began his career there in January 1994 and worked on the A and C Platoons, mostly out of Station 81.
“The Chester Firefighters IAFF Local 1400 has been advised that a retired member is alleged to have been involved in the violence in Washington D.C.; we have also been advised he is currently in police custody,” Edward Reilly Jr., president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1400, said. “We unequivocally condemn these acts of violence.”
In the U.S. Department of Justice’s Statement of Facts involved in Sanford’s arrest, authorities reference a video taken on Jan. 6 in the Lower West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol. The video shows a man in a plaid jacket and cap stepping over a short wall with a red object identified as a fire extinguisher in his right hand, then propelling it into the group of police officers and hitting an officer in the head. It then ricocheted and hit another officer in the head.
The statement said a friend of Sanford’s contacted a Pennsylvania office of the FBI on Tuesday and told them Sanford confessed to them that he was the person wanted by the FBI.
Sanford told his friend that he traveled to Washington on a bus with a group of people who went to the White House and listened to President Donald Trump’s speech.
From there, the statement said, Sanford “followed the president’s instructions and (went) to the Capitol.” It also said Sanford told his friend he was on the Capitol grounds for approximately 10 minutes, then left.
According to the statement, Sanford did not mention throwing any items but identified himself as the man wearing the “CFD” hat.
Pictures were also shared earlier this week on social media of a man wearing a “CFD” hat poised to throw a red fire extinguisher into a crowd of law enforcement.
Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland issued a statement in response to Sanford’s arrest.
“City officials are aware that a former Chester Firefighter allegedly attended and participated in
the insurrection that took place in our nation’s capital last week,” it read. “While Robert Sanford adorned a hat with a Fire Department logo, he is not a current employee of the city of Chester. Mr. Sanford was a member of the Chester Fire Department from January 1994 until his retirement in February 2020.
“As the First Amendment of our Constitution outlines the right to free speech and to peaceful assembly, the actions of the rioters in D.C. last week hinged on characteristics of domestic terrorism,” he said. “As such, if any person, be it current or former employee or resident, is confirmed to have participated in last week’s event at the Capitol, then we hope our legal system will work according to its purpose and bring them to justice.
“On behalf of the city of Chester,” Kirkland said, “I offer my deepest, most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends who lost a loved one as a result of the events that transpired on that day.”
On Jan. 7, the FBI issued a statement in their call for assistance from the public to identify those involved in the riots.
“The violence and destruction of property at the U.S. Capitol building yesterday showed a blatant and appalling disregard for our institutions of government and the orderly administration of the democratic process,” it read. “As we’ve said consistently, we do not tolerate violent agitators and extremists who use the guise of First Amendment-protected activity to incite violence and wreak havoc.
“Such behavior betrays the values of our democracy,” it continued. “Make no mistake: With our partners, we will hold accountable those who participated in yesterday’s siege of the Capitol … We are determined to find those responsible and ensure justice is served.”
The FBI has asked the public for help in identifying scores of individuals related to the riots. Any relevant information, photos or videos can be submitted to fbi.gov/USCapitol. The public can also call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800225-5324) to offer verbal tips.
Since the event, law enforcement entities are weeding out those involved and have been locating them and arresting them with federal charges including violent entry and theft.