Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON – A Michigan man pleaded guilty today to assaulting law enforcement 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.

            Matthew Thomas Krol, 64, of Linden, Michigan, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to one felony count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon. Krol is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 15, 2023.

            According to court documents, Krol traveled from his home in Michigan to Washington, D.C., in order to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021. After the rally had ended, Krol marched toward the U.S. Capitol building. At approximately 2:28 p.m., court documents say that Krol pushed forward through a crowd of rioters on the Lower West Plaza of the Capitol grounds, threw a water bottle at police officers attempting to hold a defensive perimeter around the building, and then attacked the line of police officers. During that time, Krol grappled with a police officer, stole the officer’s baton, and used the baton to strike at least two other officers.

            Court documents state that Krol first grabbed a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer and attempted to pull away the officer’s baton. During the struggle, Krol spun the officer around multiple times and eventually wrestled the baton free from the officer’s hand. Krol then held up the baton and showed it to the crowd in celebration.

            Krol then moved forward toward the police line, holding the stolen baton above his head, and swung the baton down, striking an MPD officer as the officer held his own baton in both hands in a defensive position. Krol then turned and struck at a police shield held by another officer. As the line of police officers attempted to retreat from the surging crowd of rioters, Krol again moved forward and attacked a United States Capitol Police Officer with the stolen baton.

            Krol was arrested on Feb. 22, 2022, in Linden, Michigan.

            A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            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 Eastern District of Michigan.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI Detroit Field Office’s Flint Resident Agency and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Krol as #291 in its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

            In the 31 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,106 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 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.