Man’s arrest in Jan. 6 mob riot is disturbing

Federal officials are rounding up men and women they say were involved in the Jan. 6 deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. This week’s apprehension of a Lorain County man is shocking.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Cleveland announced Clifford Mackrell, 20, was arrested at his home the morning of March 17 by agents of the FBI’s Cleveland Division.

At least five people died Jan. 6, including a police officer protecting the Capitol from a mob.

Now, Mackrell is tied to that tragic, embarrassing day in American history.

Mackrell is facing four charges relating to his alleged conduct captured on video obtained by the FBI.

The charges are: 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; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Mackrell is innocent unless proven guilty, but the charges are serious and troublesome.

But, the FBI believes it has the evidence against him.

An affidavit from FBI Special Agent Timothy J. Kolonick of the Cleveland Division says the video and still shots show a male pushing back barricades and later repeatedly striking a U.S. Capitol Police officer and grabbing the officer’s gas mask.

Kolonick continues that the assailant’s actions took place on the lower terrace as a crowd built up to eventually overwhelm U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department officers protecting the Capitol building.

The image taken from video allegedly shows Mackrell’s participation.

After Jan. 6, the FBI posted a photo and received information the man was “Cliff” who graduated from Wellington High School in 2018.

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, Mackrell allegedly used Facebook to post worrisome comments: “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.”

The affidavit says Mackrell added a vulgarity against “all news stations.”

It’s not clear why Mackrell feel this way about the media.

We checked our files and it appears we’ve haven’t featured him in our newspaper.

But, Mackrell allegedly had at least two online dialogues claiming his presence in Washington, D.C., and his involvement in the attack.

On Jan. 5, the affidavit says he claimed he was in the nation’s capital and he continued the conversation Jan. 7.

According to the affidavit, in one exchange, Mackrell claimed his head hurt from getting hit 10 to 15 times with a baton.

How fitting. Mackrell appeared in an initial hearing March 17 through the U.S. District Court-Northern District of Ohio.

The case is being prosecuted in the District of Columbia.

The 22-minute proceeding was 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 calm as he answered the judge’s questions, including those about his financial status and appointing an attorney for him.

He 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 abide by the judge’s conditions, such as following the law and not possessing firearms.

Mackrell is going to be under the spotlight for a while.

Baughman also ordered Mackrell 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.

Riedl said the U.S. Attorney’s Office would not seek detention if Mackrell obeys the 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.

If Mackrell is convicted, he needs to be punished to fullest extent of the law.

The FBI is doing a good job of bringing these alleged criminals to justice for putting a stain on our country.