A man from Pennsylvania, Joshua Lee Atwood, has been sentenced to four years in prison for attacking police officers during the January 6th Capitol riots. Atwood, 31, used metal and wooden poles, as well as an officer’s helmet and riot shield, to strike at officers who were defending the U.S. Capitol. He had pleaded guilty to assaulting officers with a dangerous weapon.
Prosecutors said Atwood’s actions were part of the violent mob that tried to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory. They described how Atwood led the mob in the Tunnel, where one of the worst battles took place that day. He used any object he could find to hit police officers, including a fabric, a metal baseball bat, and a wooden pole. While he didn’t seriously injure anyone, prosecutors noted it was a miracle no one was seriously harmed, praising the officers’ training and resilience.
Atwood also taunted the officers, calling them names and accusing them of betraying the country. He was present during some of the worst violence, throwing objects like bottles and poles at officers. At one point, he threw a long silver pole into a tunnel, hitting officers and even striking a Virginia State Police officer.
Later, Atwood entered the Capitol building through a broken window. About a month after the riot, Atwood was arrested for disorderly conduct after a confrontation with officers in Pennsylvania. During the arrest, police found marijuana in his car, and Atwood made inappropriate comments, including comparing law enforcement to Jews entering concentration camps. He later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was fined.
Atwood was identified through a tip that recognized him from his 2011 mugshot, thanks to a noticeable scar on his forehead. He was arrested again in 2023 for robbery and assault, and during that investigation, authorities connected him to the January 6th events.