Riot Shield Thief Gets 2 Felony Charges

WASHINGTON — Tyler Bradley Dykes, 26, of Bluffton, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to two felony charges for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Dykes agreed that his use of a police riot shield constituted a dangerous weapon and faces a sentencing hearing for July 19, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Howell scheduled the hearing.

According to court documents, Dykes subscribed to several public Telegram groups that discussed the 2020 Presidential election, alleged voter fraud, the Electoral College Certification, and anticipated events related to the certification that were going to take place on January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

On the morning of January 6, 2021, Dykes attended former President Trump’s rally at the Ellipse and walked from the rally to the United States Capitol Building and grounds.

As Dykes approached the Capitol, he saw snow fencing and bicycle rack barricades with ‘AREA CLOSED’ signs, but removed the snow fencing and moved the metal bicycle rack barricades, allowing other rioters to more easily enter the restricted area.

Dykes then pushed his way to the front of the mob in front of the doors and forcibly, voluntarily, and intentionally grabbed hold of one U.S. Capitol Police Officer’s riot shield. He continued using the shield to obstruct and intimidate the police officers defending the Capitol, and once inside the U.S. Capitol Building, Dykes entered the Capitol’s Rotunda, where he continued carrying the stolen police riot shield.

By 2:48 p.m., Dykes joined a group of rioters in the second-floor main hallway, north of the Small Senate Rotunda, where the rioters were confronting a line of Metropolitan Police Department officers.

The guilty plea to two felony counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers is a serious blow to those who participated in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach.

The actions of Dykes and others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Now, Dykes faces the consequences of his actions, and it remains to be seen what sentence he will receive for his role in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach.