California Man Arrested on Felony Charge For Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON — A California man was arrested on charges, unsealed yesterday, stemming from his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

            Patrick Allen Bournes, 59, of Santa Clara, California, was arrested in San Jose, CA, on January 29, 2023, and is charged with the felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder, and the misdemeanor offenses of entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the capitol grounds or buildings.

            The defendant was among a mob that illegally engaged in a physical confrontation with law enforcement officers near an entrance to the U.S. Capitol on the Lower West Terrace known as “the tunnel.” The tunnel was the location of one of the most prolonged and dangerous assaults on police on January 6, 2021. For over two and a half hours, law enforcement defended the tunnel against rioters who pushed against them, struck them, stole their riot shields, sprayed them with chemical irritants, and otherwise fought against them to gain access to the U.S. Capitol. The defendant participated in the siege against law enforcement at the tunnel including by pushing against officers and assisting other rioters to push against the officers.

            Bournes, entered the tunnel at approximately 3:03 p.m. and moved through the crowd toward the police line. Bournes pushed his way to the front of the police line and physically pressed up against police officers. At one-point Bournes was pushed back from the police line and assisted other individuals in the tunnel in handing what appears to be a police shield through the crowd and out of the tunnel.  Even as others were moving out of the tunnel, Bournes continued to stay in the tunnel and pressed forward towards the police line. Bournes and other individuals joined together and pushed against the police line in a concerted effort. The crowd, including Bournes, joined together and rocked back and forth against the police line. This crowd, then established a wall of police shields that they used to press against law enforcement officers. Bournes eventually exited the tunnel at approximately 3:11 p.m.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.

            This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington, and San Francisco Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 24 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 950 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 284 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. 

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.