Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON – A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty today to assaulting law enforcement officers 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.

            Michael J. Dickinson, 31, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Dickinson joined a mob illegally gathered outside the north side of the Capitol Building. A line of law enforcement officers stood between the rioters and the building to prevent the mob from getting inside. At approximately 3:06 p.m., Dickinson quickly walked to the front of the crowd and threw what appeared to be a coffee tumbler at the officers. The tumbler struck one officer in the face and chest. The tumbler then bounced off that officer and struck another officer. Later that afternoon, in a separate incident, Dickinson picked up a bucket filled with an unknown liquid and dumped the liquid on officers.

            Dickinson was arrested on Oct. 6, 2021, in Philadelphia. He is to be sentenced on Feb. 16, 2023. Dickinson faces a statutory maximum of eight years in prison, as well as potential financial penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            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 Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

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

            In the 19 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 860 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 260 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.