The FBI has arrested a Umatilla man for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021 during the riot at the U.S. Capitol.
David Homol, 55, was taken into custody by the FBI early Wednesday morning. Homol is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. He is also charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or ground, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and act of physical violence on Capitol grounds.
The criminal complaint alleges that Homol conspired with his half-brother, Dillon Homol to travel to Washington D.C. to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally. Once at the rally the complaint claims that Homol carried a PVC pipe with an American flag attached to the Capitol grounds. The complaint states that “At approximately 2:12 p.m., the defendant was captured swinging his flagpole multiple times at police officers as they battled rioters on the south end of the West Plaza.”
Court documents say that the defendant’s assaults on police officers are visible on body-worn camera footage from that area and time. Furthermore, court documents state that the defendant can be seen raising his flagpole and striking two different officers. First, the defendant struck the back of an officer wearing a gray bicycle helmet. Moments later, a police officer wearing a black “MPD” helmet approached, and the defendant struck the officer in the side. The officer then grappled with Homol in an attempt to take away his PVC flagpole.
Later that day, the defendant sent a text message to Dillon Homol, that read, “Today was not an antifa-inspired statement. It was totally done by angry Trump supporters with no firearms, many singing GOD bless America, Jesus saves, etc.” and “The corrupt politicians should be relieved this was NOT an Armed rebellion. It clearly was a statement of strength of We The People.”
David Homol’s brother Dillon is awaiting sentencing after having admitted guilt in one charge and was convicted on additional charges after trial. Prosecutors are seeking a two-year prison sentence for Dillon.
The Justice Department has charged more than 1,265 persons for crimes related to the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
