Former NFL linebacker charged in connection with Jan. 6 Capitol attack – WSVN 7News | Miami news, weather, sports

(CNN) — The former NFL linebacker was arrested Thursday and charged with assaulting law enforcement officers during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to court records.

Antwione Williams, 31, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2016 and later played for the XFL’s DC Defenders, now part of the UFL, was one of the first rioters to breach the restricted perimeter of the Capitol during attack on a complaint against him by the US Attorney’s Office in Washington, DC.

“Williams pushed through a group of rioters that had formed … and attacked US Capitol Police officers,” the complaint states.

Prosecutors allege Williams engaged in violent confrontations with law enforcement as part of a crowd and was recorded on police body camera pulling out a police bike rack and striking an officer in the head, according to the complaint.

In the open-source video, he can also be seen lunging at an officer who was “spraying to prevent rioters from taking one of the bike racks” used to contain the crowd, according to the document. According to the complaint, Williams later “grabbed and shoved two officers” as the rioters tried to push the officers through.

In December 2022, the FBI received a tip that led them to the former quarterback after they shared images of people who had broken into the Capitol. Agents confirmed his identity by comparing photos of the riots to images from his social media account, according to the complaint.

When Williams was arrested, he was wearing a red Chevrolet key fob that appeared to match the one seen on Williams’ wristband during the riot, investigators said. According to the complaint, there is also a photo on his Instagram account of him wearing the same golf hat he wore in the capital on January 6.

According to court documents, Williams was arrested in Savannah, Georgia, on Thursday and faces multiple charges, including assault and obstruction of officers, public disorder, trespassing and disorderly conduct in the Capitol building.

Williams pleaded not guilty Thursday during his first court appearance in Savannah. He was released on bail and will next appear in court on November 21 in Washington.

An attorney representing Williams in court told CNN he was unavailable for comment Friday.

“After rioters retook West Plaza, Williams joined chants of ‘USA!’ and waved his fists over his head,” the complaint states. “Williams took a few minutes to recover from the effects of being sprayed during this shock, but eventually made it to Lower West Terrace.”

The attack on January 6 resulted in the attack of more than 140 police officers and damages exceeding US$2.8 million. US Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia said last week.

More than 1,561 people in nearly all 50 states have been charged federally in connection with the attack, more than 590 of them for assaulting or obstructing law enforcement officers during a public disturbance. according to the US office Prosecutor of the District of Columbia. About 979 defendants pleaded guilty and 210 were convicted at trial.