Former NYPD Officer Charged with Assaulting Police in Capitol Riot

Strategic Insights -

New body-camera video obtained by CNN shows Thomas Webster, a former member of the New York City Police Department and a former Marine, attacking a police officer during the January 6 Capitol insurrection. The footage captures Webster wielding a flag pole, berating the officer, and eventually tackling them to the ground. Webster was charged in February with multiple counts, including using a flag pole to assault a police officer.

Key Takeaways:

  • Thomas Webster, a former NYPD officer and former Marine, has been charged with assaulting police during the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
  • New body-camera footage obtained by CNN shows Webster wielding a flag pole, berating an officer, and tackling them to the ground.
  • The video captures what was described in the criminal complaint, including Webster calling an officer a "piece of shit" and a "commie."
  • The Justice Department is scrutinizing the footage, which includes Webster aggressively pushing against a barricade and swinging the metal flag pole.
  • Webster was charged in February with multiple counts, including using a flag pole to assault a police officer.
  • Prosecutors have been using body-camera footage, surveillance footage, and more in court cases, but some of it has not been released to the public.
  • A judge ordered the Justice Department to release the footage after legal challenges by multiple media outlets, including CNN.

Statistics:

  • January 6: The date of the Capitol insurrection, during which Webster allegedly assaulted a police officer.
  • February: The month in which Webster was charged with multiple counts, including using a flag pole to assault a police officer.
  • 1: The number of body-camera videos released by the Justice Department, including the footage of Webster assaulting a police officer.
  • Multiple: The number of media outlets that challenged the Justice Department's decision to withhold the footage, including CNN.

Sources:

  • https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/17/politics/capitol-riot-bodycam-footage-justice-department/index.html
  • https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-nypd-officer-charged-with-assaulting-cop-during-capitol-riot-2021-2
  • https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/case-multi-defendant/file/1369976/download
  • https://www.businessinsider.com/video-ex-cop-flag-pole-tackling-police-at-capitol-riot-2021-6