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Federal investigators with the FBI allege that Alan Byerly, 54, of Fleetwood, was armed with what appeared to be a taser when he charged at Capitol officers, according to an affidavit.
He was seen wearing a gray “Kutztown” beanie, a distinctive neon “safety” yellow long-sleeve shirt under a black jacket with blue jeans, and a gray and black striped face covering, as he pushed his way through the crowd.
Officers managed to restrain Byerly, but a fellow rioter helped him escape, investigators said. Police recovered the taser that he apparently wielded.
Body camera footage captured Byerly assaulting three Metropolitan police officers, according to the affidavit.
Byerly is also accused of being part of a group that pulled an AP photographer backward down the stairs leading up to the Western Front of the U.S. Capitol Building, investigators said.
The photographer was dressed in all black and appeared to be wearing a helmet-style gas mask with a “Smith” label, the FBI said.
At the bottom of the stairs, Byerly and three other people grabbed the photographer and pushed, shoved, and dragged him parallel to the stairs, back towards the site of the original altercation, investigators said.
On April 5, an employee at a business in Fleetwood reached out to the FBI and told them Byerly comes to that business often and they've known him for six to seven years, according to the affidavit.
Records provided by T-Mobile revealed that Byerly's cell phone was in Pennsylvania on January 5, in Washington, D.C. on January 6, and returned to Pennsylvania after that date until January 12, investigators said.
Byerly is being charged with assault, obstruction of law enforcement, and disorderly conduct.
It is unclear as of July 8 if Byerly has been arraigned or is expected in court.
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