Florida Man Arrested on Felony Charges For Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON — A Florida man has been arrested on felony charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer, for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

            Daniel Ball, 38, of Homosassa Florida, is charged with the felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon; using fire or an explosive to commit any felony; obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder; entering or remaining on restricted grounds without lawful authority to do so while carrying or using a deadly or dangerous weapon; knowingly engaging in any act of physical violence while carrying or using a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds while carrying or using a deadly or dangerous weapon; and misdemeanor offenses of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; acts of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings; and stealing government property.

            According to court documents, Ball entered the United States Capitol at 3:29 p.m. through the Senate Wing door. While inside, Ball pried a large, linear broken piece of a wooden shutter from a window in the Senate connecting corridor before exiting the building. Ball then joined other rioters on the Lower West Terrace on the nearly completed inaugural stage.

            From outside the Lower West Terrace Entrance, Ball worked with other rioters to violently push against fully uniformed police officers attempting to keep individuals out of the Capitol Building. When that attempt was unsuccessful, Ball moved back into the crowd and threw an explosive device into the entranceway.

            An Explosives and Hazardous Devices Examiner with the Federal Bureau of Investigations was unable to conclusively identify the precise dimensions, charge size, or whether the device thrown was improvised or commercially manufactured; however, based on reviewing the various video angles that captured the explosive was able to conclude the device was capable of inflicting damage to surrounding property as well as seriously injuring persons in the vicinity of the resultant explosion. Several officers were injured as a result of the explosion.

            This case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Jacksonville and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

            In the 27 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested from nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the United States Capitol, including more than 320 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

A complaint or indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.