LORAIN, Ohio — A 20-year-old Lorain resident accused of assaulting a police officer during the Jan. 6 siege at the U.S. Capitol was arrested Wednesday by agents from the Cleveland Division of the FBI.
Clifford Mackrell, 20, of Lorain, was arrested on multiple federal charges including: forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate or interfere with certain officers or employees; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority, according to the criminal complaint filed in the United State District Court.
Video of the riots taken by a citizen was captured and released by the FBI. On Feb. 7, the FBI received an anonymous tip that the individual pictured in the video footage was Mackrell, identified as a graduate from the Wellington High School class of 2018.
On Feb. 25, the FBI obtained a search warrant on Mackrell’s Facebook account which revealed conversations between other Facebook users about the riots.
On the day of the Capitol riot, Mackrell wrote, “hey libtards and conservatives let’s stop fighting for a minute so I was thinking you libtards think the government was corrupt in 2016 right well I’ve thought they were corrupted for a very long time now how about we get rid of all of them because well it is out literal job as american’s to kill the tyrannical government. Also f*** all news stations.”
Images of the siege released by the FBI identified Mackrell as the individual who allegedly pushed back barricades near the Capitol entrance and was later seen striking a U.S. Capitol officer and grabbing his mask.
The FBI, identifying Mackrell as an “assailant” in the court documents, said he remained in the front of the crowd as officers fell back and formed another line closer to the Capitol building.
After Mackrell allegedly struck the officer and grabbed his mask, another officer struck Mackrell to protect the other officer. As described in the court documents, Mackrell moved back from the officers’ line and the individual operating a camera followed him and asked Mackrell his name and where he was from, at which point he said “Cliff” and that he was from “Ohio.”
According to the court documents, Mackrell then said“whatever it takes for my country,” “I’m not done,” and “I’m going back in”.
The FBI also found conversations between Mackrell and other Facebook users allegedly discussing the event of Jan. 6.
Mackrell appeared via video before Magistrate Judge William H. Baughman on Wednesday. He will be released on a location monitoring bond and ordered to live with his mother during the duration of his trial.
ClickHERE to read the full criminal complaint.
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