Pennsylvania cop, 55, is arrested after video showed him charging at police during Capitol riot before being outed by his chief
A Pennsylvania police officer has been charged by federal authorities after he was allegedly found to have participated in the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill.
Joseph Fischer, a patrolman with the North Cornwall Township Police Department near Harrisburg in the west of the state, has been charged with obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, knowingly entering a restricted building without lawful authority, violent entry and conduct on Capitol grounds, and obstruction of justice.
His arrest and subsequent charges came after Fischer posted video of himself on Facebook that appeared to show him charging a line of police officers on Capitol Hill during the insurrection.
A Pennsylvania police officer, Joseph Fischer, 55, is facing criminal charges after posting a video of himself fighting with other officers during the Capitol riots
Joseph Fischer was with North Cornwall Township Police Department and has now been suspended without pay
In the video which was posted online, he could allegedly be heard shouting 'hold the line' and 'motherf******.'
Fischer wrote that the police line was four cops deep and that he 'made it to level two.'
'I was there..we pushed police back about 25 feet,' Fischer wrote in one comment. 'Got pepper balled and OC sprayed, but entry into the Capital was needed to send a message that we the people hold the real power.'
Prosecutors allege Fisher also had a physical altercation with at least one officer before falling to the ground. He eventually made it inside the Capitol.
In later private chat messages he even wrote how he 'may need a job' after it had been revealed that he participated in the insurrection.
Fisher revealed that 'word got out that I was at the rally ... lol,' according to the complaint.
Federal prosecutors say video footage shows Fischer running at a police line outside the Capitol and yelling, 'charge!'
Screen grabs from the footage shot at the Capitol was included in an evidence pack by the DOJ
'The FBI may arrest me ... lol,' Fischer wrote. 'I know they are targeting police who went,' he added.
The police chief at the North Cornwall Township PD told him that he risked being fired to which Fischer wrote that if being fired was the 'price I have to pay to voice my freedom and liberties which I was born with and thusly taken away,' he had 'no regrets and give zero s****' about his actions.
'Sometimes doing the right thing no matter how small is more important than ones own security,' he added.
Fischer was arrested by the FBI on Friday and has been suspended without pay.
The details are all included in an 11 page criminal complaint from the FBI
Footage allegedly shows Fischer charging at a line of Capitol police officers
At one point Fischer is said to have helped another police officer off the floor
Federal authorities are still in the process of arresting and charging rioters who stormed the Capitol last month.
Several current and former members of the military or police departments across the country have been charged having been found to have participated in the violence.
US Capitol Police announced this week that six of its officers were suspended with pay and 29 others were placed under investigation for their actions at the riot.
At least 230 people have been charged by the Justice Department in the Capitol attack so far.
Various pictures of Fischer's day in Washington D.C. from his social media account were included in the complaint
Fischer is pictured in social media photos that had been posted to his Facebook account
US Capitol Police announced this week that six of its officers were suspended with pay with 29 others placed under investigation for their actions at the riot
Authorities have arrested more than 230 people for their alleged role in the siege according law enforcement but there are still more to come
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