Man charged with beating officer with Trump flag on Jan. 6

A King of Prussia, Pa, man alleged to have beaten a Washington police officer at the Capitol with a Trump flag until the metal flagpole broke in his hands — then documented the day’s events in his planner — has been charged for his purported role in the Jan. 6 riot.

According to documents unsealed in federal court in Washington on Wednesday, Howard Richardson is charged with several offenses including assaulting an officer using a dangerous weapon, civil disorder, and act of physical violence on the Capitol grounds.

Sporting a windbreaker reading “Brigantine Beach” and a red baseball cap, Richardson is shown on body-camera footage approaching a police officer in riot gear posted behind bicycle-rack barricades, allegedly yelling “Here it comes!” before bashing the officer three times with the metal pole.
Richardson only stopped swinging after the metal flagpole broke in his hands, court documents said.

“As for the facts of the case, we reserve comment,” his attorney, Thomas C. Egan III said.

“I’m not saying this is the best behavior I could have done here,” Richardson told agents.

https://www.inquirer.com/news/howard-richardson-capitol-riot-insurrection-charged-20211201.html