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By Zoe Strozewski
Staff Writer
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A man that federal authorities allege was seen on video striking police with a wooden table leg during the January 6 Capitol riot is facing charges, according to a criminal complaint that was unsealed Tuesday.
Rhode Island native Timothy Desjardins is facing six charges that include assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon or inflicting bodily injury, the Associated Press reported.
In addition to the assault allegations, an FBI affidavit said that a backpack containing identification for the 35-year-old was recovered the day after the riot outside a Washington, D.C., building where he had been sleeping, AP reported. There were three small axes, walkie talkies, a flashlight and other personal items inside the pack.
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The affidavit said authorities were able to identify Desjardins using publicly available video, U.S. Capitol Police surveillance video and police body camera footage.
"A review of videos posted on YouTube revealed Desjardins assaulted multiple law enforcement officers...by striking the officers repeatedly with what appears to be a significant amount of force and using what appears to be a broken wooden table leg," the affidavit said.
A statement of facts filed in D.C. District Court also claims that Desjardins allegedly attempted to enter a restricted area behind the FBI headquarters in D.C. the day after the Capitol breach. When an officer questioned him, he said he was there, presumably referring to the insurrection, but did not elaborate.
The officer also noted that Desjardins had one or two hatchets on the side of his backpack, and he "mentioned that he was good with them," the statement of facts said.
For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.
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Desjardins also faces charges of civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a capitol building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building, according to court documents.
He was charged on November 19.
No defense attorney was listed in online court records. A telephone number for the Providence barbershop he runs was not in service.
Desjardins is currently in state custody on unrelated charges, according to online state Department of Corrections records.
The alleged assault occurred in what's known as the tunnel area of the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol, authorities said.
Supporters of President Donald Trump broke into the Capitol on January 6 after a rally near the White House where he made claims of election fraud and challenged them to "fight like hell." About 700 people have been federally charged. Nine people died during and after the rioting.
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