WASHINGTON — Federal investigators said a man from the Williamsburg area of James City County assaulted police officers at the deadly riot at the U.S.Capitol on January 6.
A criminal complaint filed by an FBI agent states that 34-year-old Jonathan Gennaro Mellis not only entered the Capitol during the siege, but that he attacked officers protecting the building.
Federal law enforcement officers found and obtained images off of his personal Facebook page where he's pictured on the grounds and inside the building, wearing a large cowboy hat and a black quilted jacket.
The complaint also says two people who personally knew Mellis came forward to tell authorities that the screenshots they submitted were from Mellis' personal page under the name "Jon Gennaro."
When law enforcement officers visited the page, they saw the photos and captions for them that read "Storming the Castle. The world heard the US!!! Finally not ignored" and "We are fighting for election integrity. They heard us."
The court documents also say that body camera footage from the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department showed Mellis using sticks and other objects as weapons to assault the officers.
The footage showed Mellis repeatedly hitting and making stabbing movements toward the officers. He was also seen trying to strike officers in the neck between their helmets and body armor.
Mellis faces the following charges:
- Forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, or interfere Officers with aiding and abetting
- Civil disorder
- Restricted building or grounds
- Violent entry or disorderly conduct, obstruct or impede passage, and engage in physical violence on Capitol grounds
- Obstruction of Justice/Congress
On Thursday, one of Mellis's neighbors, who asked not to be named, told 13News Now she watched FBI agents arrest him at his home. She said Mellis walked out of the home with his hands up and surrendered to law enforcement.
The neighbor said Mellis lived in the home with his parents. In the past, she's had little interaction with Mellis, but said he's always been nice in passing. After finding out what Mellis is accused of, the neighbor said she's shocked.
"I guess you never really know who your neighbors are," she said.
Another neighbor said Mellis and his family have always been nice, and that his parents are having a rough time with what happened.
Mellis' arrest in connection to the riot is one of several across the Hampton Roads area. Mellis has a virtual hearing scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.
Read the full criminal complaint below: