Dallas actor, 41, who appeared in Friday Night Lights, is charged with beating a cop with a crutch during the Capitol riot
A small time actor from Texas who appeared in an episode of Friday Night Lights has been charged with using a crutch to beat a cop during the Capitol riot.
Luke Coffee, 41, was seen in photos and video using the crutch to assault the officer as he protected the federal building as chaos ensued on January 6, according to a criminal complaint, the Daily Beast reports.
The Dallas native has worked on post-production for a few television shows and has appeared on a few projects as an actor, including brief stints on Friday Night Lights and Las Vegas.
According to the complaint, Coffee is seen on footage on the steps of the Capitol close to the Lower Terrace tunnel entranceway. Prosecutors say Coffee was wearing a brown cowboy hat, camouflage jacket and a blue bandana.
Luke Coffee, 41, was seen in photos and video using the crutch to assault the officer as he protected the federal building as chaos ensued
According to the complaint, Coffee is seen on footage on the steps of the Capitol close to the Lower Terrace tunnel entranceway. Prosecutors say Coffee was wearing a brown cowboy hat, camouflage jacket and a blue bandana
Video shows the man making 'several statements' to rioters as they try to breach the building, though it is unclear what he is saying.
The complaint states that these rioters were part of the group that brutally attacked cops with blunt objects and threw items at them as well. A cop at that particular section was even 'violently dragged down the Lower Terrace steps by protesters.'
Coffee held the crutch over his head before charging the police officers, according to the complaint.
Additional bodycam footage shows that as Coffee was pushed back, he charged at officers and used the crutch 'as a blunt object weapon by positioning the crutch directly toward the officer's upper chest/head area.'
The Dallas native has worked on post-production for a few television shows and has appeared on a few projects as an actor, including brief stints on Friday Night Lights and Las Vegas
Two D.C. officers were needed to hold Coffee and his weapon back. The crutch was seen being used by several rioters as they attacked officers.
Local Texas site Central Track reported that Coffee documented his trip to the Capitol. On the morning of the riot, he is said to have posted a photo alongside a fellow rioter.
'Historic Day for 'Merica!!' Coffee captioned the photo on Facebook.
Several witnesses tipped the FBI off to Coffee's participation at the riots, including a 'college classmate who happens to be a Special Agent'
Coffee was charged with assault of a federal law enforcement officer with a dangerous weapon, interference with law enforcement officer during civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, unlawful entry on restricted grounds and disorderly conduct.
Several witnesses tipped the FBI off to Coffee's participation in the riots, including a 'college classmate who happens to be a Special Agent,' according to the complaint.
Another witness recognized Coffee because he was wearing 'attire that stood out,' noting that Coffee had been in a YouTube video last October where he 'discussed several conspiracy theories.'
Coffee told federal authorities during a January 13 interview that he drove to the Capitol on the day of the riot. The actor acknowledged that he 'held up a crutch over his head' outside the building, but 'Coffee stated he did not engage in any type of physical confrontations with the police while at the Capitol Building,' the complaint said.
Another witness recognized Coffee because he was wearing 'attire that stood out,' noting that Coffee had been in a YouTube video last October where he 'discussed several conspiracy theories'
Coffee told federal authorities during a January 13 interview that he drove to the Capitol on Jan. 6. The actor acknowledged that he 'held up a crutch over his head' outside the building
Following the riots, Coffee would appear in a number of videos where he continued to spew conspiracy theories. He admitted to attacking police in a now-deleted Facebook video.
'Those cops I fought, uh, I was pushing against, I grabbed a crutch. And I went in and pushed against the line. I pushed all against the line and was, like, trying to drive them back, and God gave me some supernatural energy, and they sprayed in my eyes,' Coffee said in the video, Central Track reports.
Coffee described the violence as an 'antifa false flag attack,' and added that he was 'ready to die' with 'patriots' who were exercising their right of freedom of speech.
'I was ready to die last night. We thought we were, we were totally gassed. And I literally thought I was getting gassed to death like I was in Nazi Germany, a Jew getting gassed to death. Okay,' he said.
Rioters clash with police trying to enter Capitol building through the front doors
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