DC Police Officer Daniel Hodges
NBCWashington
A Connecticut man has been arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer wedged between two doors during the January 6 riot by Trump supporters in the Capitol.
Patrick Edward McCaughey III, 23, of Ridgefield, repeatedly told Capitol police officer Daniel Hodges “just go home” and “come on man you get squashed” as he squeezed Hodges between a riot shield McCaughey was holding and the doors, one said criminal complaint.
While McCaughey did so, another rioter “violently ripped off Officer Hodges ‘gas mask and exposed Officer Hodges’ bloody mouth,” the complaint filed in the US District Court in Washington, DC.
Hodges can be seen on a YouTube video of the attack crying out in pain as a wealth of supporters of then-President Donald Trump pressed against him, adding their weight to McCaughey’s.
McCaughey was later spotted by security cameras exiting the Capitol after hitting other agents with the riot shield, the complaint said.
Hodges survived the attack, but another Capitol police officer was beaten elsewhere by other rioters and died a day later.
Hodges later told reporters of his efforts to stop the crowd: “If it wasn’t my job, I would have done it for free.”
“It was absolutely my pleasure to put down a white nationalist rebellion, and we will do it as often as we need to,” said Hodges.
Patrick Edward McCaughey III as depicted in a federal criminal complaint
Source: FBI Public Affairs Office
McCaughey was arrested Tuesday night by FBI agents in White Plains, New York, after someone called with a tip about him.
He was scheduled to appear in federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday on charges of assault, resistance, or interference with certain officials or employees; social unrest; entering a restricted building or site; and violent entry or disorderly conduct.
McCaughey’s father, aka Patrick, hanged a CNBC reporter when he was contacted to comment on his son’s arrest.
The video of the attack on Hodges went viral, as did other shocking footage of Trump supporters raging in and around the Capitol in their failed effort to stop Congress from formally ratifying President Joe Biden’s election. A joint session of Congress confirmed Biden’s victory early the next morning.
“The brutal attack on Officer Hodges was vile and essentially un-American,” US District Attorney Michael Sherwin said in a statement.
“It is my promise that anyone involved in violent assaults on law enforcement in the Capitol on January 6 will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. McCaughey’s alleged actions were an attack on Officer Hodges, the Capitol and the law itself, ‘he said.
Steven D’Antuono, deputy director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, said: “Even after seeing so many shocking and gruesome scenes of the Capitol siege for days, the ferocious beatings of DC Metropolitan Police Officer Hodges stand out. by the culprit’s blatant disregard for human life. “
Patrick McCaughey’s actions were violent, barbaric and completely out of control, he added. “The FBI will relentlessly pursue individuals who have taken part in this activity and we will continue our unwavering commitment to ensure that all those responsible for attacks on law enforcement officials are brought to justice.”
Biden was sworn in on Wednesday, hours after Trump left Washington without attending the inauguration, a highly unusual violation of presidential etiquette.
The House of Representatives last week blamed Trump for inciting the crowd with his speech outside the White House shortly before the attack on the Capitol. The Senate is expected to hold a trial to determine whether Trump will be convicted and, possibly, banned him from federal office for life.