Colorado Springs resident Jonathan Grace, 49, is facing felony and misdemeanor charges for his direct involvement in the January 6th, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol. Grace wasn’t a bystander; he actively engaged in a violent mob that overwhelmed law enforcement and disrupted the certification of the presidential election.
According to court filings, Grace descended on the Lower West Terrace and tunnel area, joining a furious onslaught against police officers. At approximately 3:12 PM, he entered the tunnel, immediately becoming part of a coordinated effort to break through the police line. Witnesses and video evidence show Grace shouting commands like “HEAVE HO!” and “PUSH!” as rioters surged forward.
The situation quickly escalated to brutality. One officer was horrifically pinned between a shield and a door, screaming in pain as the weight of the mob – including Grace – bore down on them. Grace briefly stepped away to ditch his beanie and backpack with an accomplice before plunging back into the fray, positioning himself at the forefront of the assault. He wasn’t just present; he was actively trying to maintain the pressure, clinging to the tunnel wall as officers attempted to regain control.
Even after police managed to temporarily repel the rioters, Grace didn’t retreat. He witnessed a particularly vicious attack on another officer, then immediately re-engaged, joining the renewed push against the police line inside the tunnel. This wasn’t spontaneous outrage; it was sustained, coordinated violence. Grace is identified as individual #233 in photos circulated by the FBI seeking public assistance.
Federal prosecutors in the District of Columbia, working with the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, are handling the case, with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. The FBI’s Denver and Washington Field Offices spearheaded the investigation, aided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department. This wasn’t a quick bust; it was a meticulous, months-long investigation.
Grace’s arrest is just one piece of a massive nationwide crackdown. Over 1,000 individuals have been arrested in connection with the Capitol breach, and more than 320 face charges of assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The feds aren’t letting up, and the investigation remains active. Anyone with information related to the January 6th riot is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
RELATED: Lewiston Predator Gets 15 Years for Online Exploitation
RELATED: Loveland Church Torched: Man Charged with Arson
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly.
Subscribe free →
Browse More