Georgia man charged for assaulting police during Jan. 6 capitol breach in Washington, D.C.
ATLANTA - Jacob Davis, a 31-year-old resident of Adairsville, faced federal charges in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 24 related to his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. Davis has become the 29th individual with ties to Georgia to be implicated in the ongoing investigation of the Capitol attack.
Charges against Davis include assaulting police with a deadly or dangerous weapon and obstruction of police, both classified as felonies. According to court records, Davis is believed to have been among the violent mob that confronted law enforcement in an entryway tunnel on the lower west terrace of the Capitol. This tunnel saw some of the most intense clashes during the day as a pro-Trump crowd attempted to breach the Capitol.
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Investigators claim that Davis, identifiable in photos by his Trump stocking cap and U.S. Space Force hoodie, entered the tunnel and joined others in pushing against the police who had formed a blockade at the entrance. This collective effort, described as a "heave-ho" maneuver, involved rioters swaying back and forth to break the police line. Davis is also accused of throwing a board at the police and pushing them with a police shield he picked up from the ground.
The charge of assaulting police with a deadly or dangerous weapon relates to the allegations of using the board and shield to attack law enforcement. This charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, though it's worth noting that many Jan. 6 rioters who have accepted plea deals have received more lenient sentences.
Although more than 33 months have passed since the riot, investigators are still identifying and charging those involved. The FBI, with the help of digital records from Google, has been able to pinpoint individuals present at the Capitol on that fateful day. One of the phone numbers found in these records belonged to Jacob Davis. Investigators compared his Georgia driver's license photo with images of suspects wanted in the riot investigation, and in July, an unnamed associate of Davis identified him in photos from the Capitol riot.
A warrant for Davis' arrest was issued on Sept. 29, and he was apprehended on Oct. 17. The case remained sealed until his appearance in Washington on Tuesday. In addition to the two felony charges, Davis faces five misdemeanor charges related to his actions on Capitol grounds.
Davis joins the growing list of individuals charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack. Nationally, nearly 1,200 people have been charged in this extensive investigation, with over 400 of them facing charges of assaulting police, including using deadly or dangerous weapons in alleged assaults.