Brothers Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement at Capitol Riot
On Thursday, two brothers from upstate New York were taken into custody on serious charges related to their involvement in the violent events that unfolded at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Roger A. Voisine Jr., 48, and Reynold R. Voisine, 47, now face multiple felony charges, including civil disorder and the assault of an officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon.
According to a news release issued by Matthew M. Graves, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, the Voisine brothers began their day by attending a rally for former President Donald J. Trump at the Ellipse near the White House. Evidence suggests that they were prepared for potential chaos as they made their way to the Capitol. Each brother donned a paintball mask, and Roger Voisine was additionally equipped with a two-way radio, a GoPro camera mounted on a stick, and a tripod concealed within his jacket.
As the violent mob surged forward, attacking law enforcement officers from the U.S. Capitol Police and forcing their way into the building, both brothers were reported to have actively participated in the chaos of that day. Authorities indicated that Reynold Voisine was particularly aggressive, using various objects to assault officers, including a crutch, a stolen police riot shield, and a blue pole.
As images from the riot spread across the internet, vigilant citizens undertook the task of analyzing these visuals to identify individuals involved in the insurrection. Reynold Voisine’s use of the blue pole led to him being dubbed #BlueJavelin in online discussions, as noted in the statement of facts released by prosecutors.
Reports indicate that at approximately 3:20 p.m., Reynold Voisine was part of a group of rioters who were seen brutally attacking an officer and dragging him from the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, which was the site of some of the most violent confrontations between rioters and law enforcement that day, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Enforcement officer.
