Massachusetts Man Arrested on Felony Charges For Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Defendant Accused of Assaulting Officer

            WASHINGTON — A Massachusetts man and former Boston Police Department Officer has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer and civil disorder, for 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.

            Joseph Robert Fisher, 52, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with the felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, and obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder, and the misdemeanor offenses of: entering and 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; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, acts of physical violence the Capitol grounds or building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

            Joseph Robert Fisher was arrested this morning in Plymouth, MA. He is expected to make his initial appearance later today in the District of Massachusetts.

            Fisher entered the U.S. Capitol Building at approximately 2:24 P.M. on January 6, 2021 via the Senate Wing Door on the North side of the U.S. Capitol. At approximately 2:38 P.M., Fisher was in the Capitol Visitor Center’s Orientation Lobby where an altercation began between a U.S. Capitol Police Officer and other rioters. As a U.S. Capitol Police Officer pursued a rioter who had deployed pepper spray, Fisher pushed a chair into the Capitol Police Officer. Fisher then engaged in a physical altercation with the Capitol Police Officer. Shortly afterwards, Fisher exited the U.S. Capitol Building.

            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 District of Massachusetts.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Boston Field Office and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 26 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 320 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.