Georgia Man Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON — A Georgia man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement, related to 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 2020 presidential election.

            Michael Bradley, 49, of Forsyth, Georgia, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. In addition to the felonies, Bradley is charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.

            Bradley was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Forsyth, and made his initial appearance today in the Middle District of Georgia before Magistrate Judge Charles H. Weigle.

            According to court documents, between 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, an individual, later identified as Bradley, wearing a camouflage baseball cap, camouflage quilted jacket, and a pair of blue jeans, with a baton in a holster on his right hip, walked towards the U.S. Capitol and moved to the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, where law enforcement officers were amassed.

            As Bradley walked with other protesters to the U.S. Capitol, he passed fencing and barricades that showed that the Capitol grounds were restricted. Bradley then ascended the building’s steps to the Lower West Terrace. Bradley made his way to the mouth of the Tunnel and watched as others in the crowd assaulted a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer.

            Court documents say that Bradley approached the Tunnel two times over a two-minute period with the intent of assaulting officers with his baton. At about 4:27 p.m., Bradley raised his baton and approached officers in the Tunnel in an apparent threat to strike them. However, he was sprayed with a chemical agent, which appeared to have caused him to temporarily retreat.

            Again, at approximately 4:28 p.m., CCTV and third-party video captured Bradley as he returned to the mouth of the Tunnel. This time, he swung at the officers with his baton in an apparent attempt to hit them. After swinging at the officers at least two times, Bradley moved to the side of the Tunnel.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. 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 U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Atlanta and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 32 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,146 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 398 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

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