A Dallas resident who reportedly used a crutch to attack police officers while storming the Capitol Building last month will appear in court on Friday, the FBI says.
Luke Coffee, 41, surrendered to Dallas authorities on Thursday.
Coffee, a professional actor, is at least the ninth person in North Texas to be arrested in the January 6 riot following a rally of former President Donald Trump. It happened when Congress certified the results of the presidential election.
Coffee was reportedly wearing a brown hat, camouflage clothing and a blue bandanna, and reportedly wielded a crutch when attempting to enter the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Photos of coffee recorded on an officer’s body-worn camera and security cameras were included in the charges as evidence in the case.
United States Department of Justice The FBI entered this photo from unsourced video as evidence as part of a criminal complaint against Luke Coffee.
According to the indictment, while storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, Coffee climbed the stairs to the entrance to Lower Terrace and turned to face the crowd to make various statements.
The complaint alleges that, after entering the hall, Coffee was involved in an argument with the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department and the US Capitol Police Officers.
Images from officers’ body-worn cameras show Coffee making physical contact with officers, the complaint alleges.
According to the complaint, Coffee picked up a stool from the top of the stairs and held it over his head as he watched the crowd.
United States Department of Justice The FBI entered this photo from unsourced video as evidence as part of a criminal complaint against Luke Coffee.
Coffee then used the crutch to push through the row of MPD and USCP officers in the Capitol.
According to the complaint, Coffee assaulted the agents while “holding the stool in a more aggressive manner.”
United States Department of Justice The FBI entered this captured photo of a video on the camera carried by an officer as evidence as part of a criminal complaint against Luke Coffee.
The complaint alleges that, based on images from officers’ body-worn cameras, Coffee “intended to continue using the crutch as a blunt object weapon by positioning the crutch directly toward the officer’s upper chest / head area.”
United States Department of Justice The FBI entered this captured photo of a video on the camera carried by an officer as evidence as part of a criminal complaint against Luke Coffee.
A witness, who informed investigators that they had met Coffee in the summer of 2020, told investigators that they recognized Coffee in videos of the Capitol riot posted on social media and YouTube. The witness told investigators they had previously seen Coffee in a video on social media discussing various conspiracy theories, the charges allege.
According to the indictment, FBI agents had an interview with Coffee on Jan. 13, in which Coffee admitted to being in the Capitol on Jan. 6 and informed the agents that he was wearing a brown hat and holding a crutch over his head. while in the Capitol.
Coffee told agents that he “did not engage in any form of physical confrontation with the police while at the Capitol,” the complaint said.
According to the complaint, Coffee told agents that he left Dallas in a truck on January 4 and arrived in Washington DC on the night of January 5. He stated that he “couldn’t remember where he stayed while in Washington DC.” complaint claims.
Coffee informed agents that he had returned to Dallas on or around January 7.
The complaint alleges that the FBI Washington Field Office published multiple “Seeking Information” posters featuring photos of individuals who took part in the Capitol riot.
After publishing one of these posters on Jan. 16, the FBI received several tips for identifying one of the individuals depicted as Luke Coffee, the complaint alleges.
According to the indictment, the FBI identified Luke Coffee from photos and videos posted to social media, Coffee’s driver’s license, and photos and videos recorded on body-worn and security cameras of officers in the Capitol on January 6. .
Coffee is expected to be accused of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer with a dangerous weapon, meddling with law enforcement officials during civil disorder, obstruction of official proceedings, unlawful access on restricted grounds, and disorderly conduct on capital grounds.
As of Feb. 26, federal charges have been filed against more than 254 people involved in the riot, according to the George Washington University Program on Extremism, including North Texans Garret Miller of Richardson; Larry Rendall Brock, of Grapevine; Nolan Cooke, from Savoy; Jennifer Leigh Ryan, of Frisco; Guy Wesley Reffitt, of Wylie; Troy Anthony Smocks, from Dallas; Nicholas DeCarlo, of Burleson; Daniel Goodwyn of Corinth; Jason Hyland, from McKinney, Katherine Schwab, and now Luke Coffee.