Florida Men Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon and Other Felony Charges During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

           WASHINGTON — Two Florida men have been arrested for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and other felony charges, related to their alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Their alleged actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

           Jarod Hawks, 43, of Port Orange, Florida, and John Padgett, 40, of Edgewater, Florida, are charged with multiple felony offenses of assault on a federal officer, civil disorder, and assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

           In addition to the felonies, the two men are charged with five misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; obstructing, or impeding passage, through or within, the grounds or any of the Capitol buildings; and engaging in an act of physical violence in the grounds or any of the Capitol buildings. 

           The FBI arrested the two men today in Florida, and they will make their initial appearance in the Middle District of Florida.

           According to court documents, CCTV footage, open-source videos, photographs, and information provided by the public established the movements of two individuals on Jan. 6, 2021, later identified as defendants Hawks and Padgett.

           After participating in the initial breach of the Peace Circle, during which law enforcement officers were assaulted and injured, Hawks and Padgett made their way to the police line on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building. There, they allegedly used a large metal object to attack the police line. Hawks and Padgett then remained on the West Front and allegedly continued to attack police. Among other things, court documents show Hawks and Padgett kicking a bike rack barricade multiple times while it was being held by police. After the two men repeatedly kicked the barricade, officers lost control and another rioter shoved the barricade aside, creating a breach in the police line.  

           The police line on the West Front was eventually overwhelmed, and law enforcement was forced to retreat. As law enforcement officers fell back, Hawks and Padgett allegedly moved bike rack barricades away from the former law enforcement position to allow more rioters to approach the Capitol building.

           Later in the day, Hawks and Padgett allegedly used a large object as both a shield and battering ram against another police line on the West Front. Video footage shows Hawks and Padgett allegedly hoisting a large object, turning it towards officers, and advancing into the police line using the object to resist police and break the police line.

           This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

           This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Jacksonville and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

           In the 46 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,561 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 590 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

           Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

           A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.