The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Lorain man arrested by FBI
Believed to be involved in insurrection at U.S. Capitol
A Lorain man is charged with four counts related to violence committed at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Cleveland.
Clifford Mackrell, 20, was arrested the morning of March 17 by agents of the FBI’s Cleveland Division, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Mackrell faces four charges relating to alleged conduct that was shown publicly on video and captured by the FBI, according to an affidavit filed with the case.
“The video shows a male assailant pushing back barricades and later repeatedly striking a U.S. Capitol Police Officer and grabbing the officer’s gas mask,” said the affidavit from FBI Special Agent Timothy J. Kolonick of the Cleveland Division. “The assailant’s actions took place on the
“The officers were able to knock down the assailant. As the assailant moved back from the officers’ line, the individual operating the camera followed him and asked the assailant his name and where he was from. The assailant stated his name was “Cliff” and that he was from “Ohio.” — FBI affidavit
lower terrace as a crowd built up to eventually overwhelm U.S. Capitol Police Officers and Metropolitan Police Department Officers protecting the Capitol building.”
The affidavit included still shots from the video that allegedly shows Mackrell striking an officer and grabbing the officer’s face mask.
“After the assailant struck the officer and grabbed the officer’s mask, another officer struck the assailant to protect the officer under attack,” the affidavit said.
“The officers were able to knock down the assailant. As the assailant moved back from the officers’ line, the individual operating the camera followed him and asked the assailant his name and where he was from. The assailant stated his name was “Cliff” and that he was from “Ohio.” Cliff then stated ‘whatever it takes for my country,’ ‘I’m not done,’ ‘I’m going back in’.”
In court
Mackrell appeared in an initial hearing on March 17 through the U.S. District Court-Northern District of Ohio. The case is being prosecuted out of the District of Columbia.
The hearing was held via an online meeting with U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge William H. Baughman Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Riedl and defense attorney Brian McGraw.
Mackrell appeared to be calm and he answered the judge’s questions, including those about his financial status and possibly appointing an attorney for him.
Mackrell said he works for a roofing company, had some money in his checking account and owned a 2005 Toyota Corolla.
If released from custody, Mackrell said he would live with his mother and would abide by conditions, such as following the law and not possessing firearms.
He was ordered to supply a DNA sample and to comply with any psychiatric evaluations or drug tests.
Mackrell said he understood his rights to remain silent, not to incriminate himself and to consult with his attorney at any time.
Riedl said the U.S. Attorney’s Office would not seek detention if Mackrell obeys various conditions of bond, including location monitoring.
Mackrell is not allowed to leave the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court-Northern District of Ohio, except to travel to court appearances in Washington D.C.
The judge set a $20,000 un- secured bond, meaning Mackrell would not need to post the money to be released, but if he violated the law, the U.S. Attorney’s Office could seek that amount from him.
McGraw said Mackrell waived his identity hearing and preliminary hearing in Ohio, but did not waive those court hearings in Washington D.C.
Mackrell appeared to have grown out his hair and beard and he appeared to wear an orange hooded sweatshirt. The hearing lasted almost 22 minutes.
Investigation
After Jan. 6, the FBI posted a photo and received information the man was “Cliff” who graduated from Wellington High School in 2018, according to the affidavit.
FBI agents used a search warrant to examine Mackrell’s Facebook posts that allegedly stated he was involved in the Capitol incidents.
On Jan. 6, the day of Capitol incident, Mackrell allegedly used Facebook to post: “hey libtards and conservatives let’s stop fighting for a minute so I was thinking you libtards think the government was corrupt in 2016 right well I’ve thought they were corrupted for a very long time now how about we get rid of all of them because well it is out literal job as american’s to kill the tyrannical government.” Mackrell also added a vulgarity against “all news stations,” according to the affidavit.
Mackrell allegedly had at least two online dialogues claiming his presence in Washington, D.C., and his involvement in the attack.
On Jan. 5, Mackrell claimed he was in the nation’s capital and he continued the conversation on Jan. 7. In one exchange, Mackrell claimed his head hurt from getting hit 10 to 15 times with a baton, according to the information in the affidavit.
Charges
Kolonick’s criminal complaint included the charges:
• Forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, or interfere with certain officers or employees
• Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority with intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of government business or official functions
• Obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder
• Violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.