Jan 6 fugitives caught by FBI on third anniversary of Capitol riot

07 January 2024 , 14:38

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Three alleged insurrectionists have been captured according to the FBI (Image: zz/John Nacion/STAR MAX/IPx)

Three alleged January 6 rioters have been snared by federal agents on the third anniversary of the now infamous riot at the Capitol Building in Washington DC.

A spokesperson for the bureau confirmed that Jonathan Daniel Pollock, 24; Olivia Michele Pollock, 33; and Joseph Daniel Hutchinson III, 27, were all now in custody after agents discovered them at a ranch in Groveland, Florida, about 30 miles west of Orlando, according to NBC affiliate WESH.

Jonathan had been on the run from the FBI since 2021 after agents raided his family home in connection with the shocking scenes that took place on January 6, 2021. He was accused of attacking several police officers with a deadly weapon during the widely covered riot, which saw supporters of former President Donald Trump attempt to prevent Congress from confirming the 2020 election victory of President Joe Biden.

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Jonathan Daniel Pollock has been taken into custody (FBI/AFP via Getty Images)

In a statement from the Justice Department in 2021 details of the accusations against Jonathan were fleshed out, saying he allegedly punched and kneed officers, later obtaining a riot shield from one after charging into a line. The release said: "Jonathan Pollock grappled with another officer and swung his arm to strike the officer while another rioter simultaneously swung at the officer with a flagpole." Hutchinson was also accused of kicking officers during the battle.

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Olivia Pollock is charged with punching and elbowing an officer and trying to grab officers’ batons.

The statement added that: "Hutchinson kicked the line of police officers, and Jonathan Pollock seized a riot shield which he thrust into an officer’s throat and face before thrusting the shield towards another officer." Olivia was wanted by the FBI after vanishing in March ahead of her trial. The trio are expected to face a first federal court appearance on Monday in Ocala, about 56 miles north of the ranch where they were discovered.

Olivia Michele Pollock was found at a ranch (FBI/AFP via Getty Images)

In June 2021, the Pollocks’ brother, Gabriel, defended his siblings and Hutchinson in an interview with The Ledger, Lakeland’s newspaper.

“I do feel like it is a political move that’s being perpetrated, which — it’s sad,” Gabriel Pollock told the paper. “It’s not how the country should be run ... with everything going on in the country, I think people are pretty fed up with the way the country’s being taken away from the people.”

According to CNN, President Joe Biden talked about the Capitol insurrection on Friday ahead of its third anniversary during a speech in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where he to a clear swipe at former president Trump. Biden said: "Hear me clearly, I'll say what Donald Trump won't – political violence is never ever acceptable in the United States political system. It has no place in a democracy – none. You can't be pro-insurrectionist and pro-American."

Joseph Daniel Hutchinson III was found with the other two suspects (FBI/AFP via Getty Images)

However, his speech faced a significant backlash online after it was posted to X, (formerly Twitter). There were a number of jibes about the president's state of health and that he seemingly had to be guided off stage by his wife, First Lady Jill Biden, after being unaware of the exit.

One said: "Thankfully his wife was there to escort him off the stage before he fell or got lost", while others accused Biden of hypocrisy in talking about violence when some states are trying to have Trump removed from the ballot for the next general election, with one person stating: "What you are doing to remove Trump from the ballot is the real violence."

Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke about the Capitol insurrection during a speech in South Carolina at the 7th Episcopal District AME Church Women’s Missionary Society annual retreat. She said: "On that day we saw violence, chaos, and lawlessness but some so-called leaders tried to mislead and gaslight by claiming it was a peaceful protest. These extremists say the group was led by quote 'great patriots'. They tried to overrule the votes of millions of Americans.

Paul Donald