Illinois Man Admits Attacking Cops on Jan. 6

WASHINGTON D.C. – Another foot soldier in the January 6th insurrection has fallen. William Lewis, 57, of Burbank, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers during the breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions, alongside a mob of rabid agitators, directly disrupted the joint session of Congress meant to certify the 2020 presidential election results. Sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras.

According to court documents unsealed today, Lewis journeyed from Illinois to D.C. to participate in the “Stop the Steal” rally. But the rally wasn’t enough for this guy. After the speeches, Lewis joined the surging crowd that overran the West Plaza of the Capitol grounds. There, he found himself face-to-face with officers from the United States Capitol Police (USCP) and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) – officers desperately trying to hold the line against the advancing mob.

Lewis didn’t just stand there. He actively engaged in the assault. Court records detail how he repeatedly sprayed streams of wasp and hornet spray directly at the faces of the officers. At least one MPD officer was forced to abandon their position and seek immediate medical attention because of Lewis’s actions. Another officer reported a burning sensation on their face and eyes. This wasn’t a peaceful protest; it was a calculated attack on those sworn to protect the Capitol.

But the assault didn’t stop there. Shortly after the chemical spray attack, Lewis stormed towards the Lower West Terrace. He then proceeded to steal a police baton and used it to smash three panes of a large window—one quarter-moon shaped, and two smaller square panes—immediately to the right of the Lower West Terrace Tunnel. The damage was deliberate, adding to the chaos and endangering anyone nearby. This wasn’t about patriotism; it was about destruction.

The FBI finally caught up with Lewis on November 9, 2023, in his hometown of Burbank, Illinois. He was identified through photos circulated as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) AFO (Assault on Federal Officer) #283. The case was spearheaded by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. The USCP and MPD also provided critical support in the investigation.

Lewis is just one of 1,424-plus individuals charged in connection with the January 6th breach, with over 500 facing felony charges for assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation is still very much active. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and bring you the unvarnished truth about the ongoing fallout from the Capitol riot.