A South Dakota man has been arrested and charged with assaulting law enforcement and other crimes during the January 6, 2021, breach of the US Capitol.
Darrell Goins, 42, of Newell, South Dakota, was arrested on May 9, 2024, in South Dakota, and made his initial appearance in court today. The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
According to court documents, Goins was part of the crowd gathered on the Capitol’s West Plaza on January 6, 2021. He was standing directly in front of a line of US Capitol Police officers that had formed to protect the building. Open-source video footage shows Goins raising his fist in the air and cheering to the crowd of rioters.
At around 1:50 p.m., rioters began to breach the police line protecting a staircase located at the north end of the West Plaza. Goins joined the crowd in pushing forward up the stairs and allegedly threw a 20-ounce plastic soft-drink bottle in the direction of a USCP officer. He then physically engaged with several USCP officers while attempting to break through their lines.
Goins made it to the top landing of the stairway that police were protecting, but USCP officers were able to wrestle him to the ground and bring him to a seated position on the stairs. He eventually obtained a USCP officer’s riot shield and passed it off to another rioter, allowing the mob to break through the police line and surge up the remaining stairs.
Goins entered the Capitol building via the Senate Wing Door at 2:14 p.m. and moved further into the building, arriving at the foyer just inside the Senate Carriage Door. He remained inside the Capitol building despite efforts by police to move the crowd out. He later returned to the area inside the Senate Wing Door and exited the building at around 2:30 p.m.
Goins is charged with six felony offenses, including civil disorder, assaulting or resisting officers using a dangerous weapon, and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds using a dangerous weapon. He is also charged with two misdemeanor offenses of disorderly or disruptive conduct and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
Related Federal Cases
- South Dakota Man Charged with Assaulting Cops, Rioting in Jan. 6 Capitol Breach · Washington
- South Dakota Man Charged for Assaulting Capitol Cops · Washington
- South Dakota Man Charged with Assaulting Cops During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach · Maryland
- South Dakota Man Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach · South Dakota
- Rapid City Man Crashes Into Riot, Assaults Cops on Jan. 6 · Maryland
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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