Swansea Man Throws Object at Capitol, Faces Riot Charges

FALL RIVER, MA – Michael St. Pierre, 46, of Swansea, Massachusetts, is cooling his heels in federal custody after being arrested for his role in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. The feds allege St. Pierre didn’t just show up to watch the chaos; he actively participated, allegedly hurling an object at the Capitol doors.

St. Pierre was taken into custody in Fall River and will appear in federal court in Massachusetts. He’s been slapped with a felony charge of civil disorder, alongside a slew of misdemeanor offenses including destruction of government property and unlawful entry into a restricted area. The charges suggest a deliberate attempt to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

Court documents reveal St. Pierre traveled from Massachusetts to Washington D.C. with the specific intent of joining the riot. Investigators claim video evidence shows St. Pierre making statements indicating a desire to forcefully enter the Capitol and potentially harm those inside. This wasn’t a spontaneous decision; it was a planned trip to fuel the insurrection, according to prosecutors.

The feds are building their case with video evidence placing St. Pierre near the Capitol as the situation escalated. The complaint details his alleged actions and provides the legal foundation for the charges. He’s accused not only of throwing an object, but of contributing to the overall violence and disruption that unfolded that day. Expect a vigorous prosecution given the gravity of the charges and the political sensitivity surrounding the case.

This arrest is just one piece of a much larger investigation. Over 1,069 individuals have been arrested nationwide in connection with the January 6th breach, with over 350 facing charges related to assaulting or obstructing law enforcement. The FBI’s Boston Field Office led the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Federal prosecutors from the District of Columbia, working with the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, are handling the case. Anyone with tips related to the January 6th attack is urged to contact the FBI through their hotline or online submission portal. The investigation remains ongoing, and the feds haven’t ruled out further arrests. Remember, St. Pierre is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but the evidence appears damning.