A Southwest Virginia man was arrested today for assaulting law enforcement and other charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.
John Paul Bordeaux, 36, of Floyd, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with two felony offenses, including civil disorder and assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers.
Bordeaux is also charged with misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and act of physical violence in the Capitol of buildings.
Bordeaux was identified as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #328.
His 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.
According to court documents, Bordeaux was identified on Jan. 6, 2021, at about 2:10 p.m. within a group of rioters on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol grounds. There, Bordeaux was yelling at police officers while the police deployed tear gas and other crowd control measures.
Police body-worn camera depicts Bordeaux walking along the Lower West Terrace and waving at other rioters as if to encourage them to follow. Bordeaux was also seen helping other rioters get closer to a line of police officers fending off a surging crowd.
At about 2:33 p.m., Bordeaux can be seen rushing down a set of stairs toward the police line. It is alleged that Bordeaux encountered officers in line, raised his fist and started punching a police officer’s riot shield. Bordeaux can be seen stepping back, still with his fists raised, and punching the riot shield several more times.
At one point, the police officer holding the riot shield that Bordeaux was attacking used the shield to knock Bordeaux down. Bordeaux got back up and continued to attack the shield. The officer again knocked Bordeaux down, but Bordeaux continued his attack. Shortly after this attack, the crowd surged against the police line causing the officers to retreat.
Bordeaux later reached the entrance to a door that led to the Upper West Terrace and waived for other rioters to help him open it.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Richmond and Washington field offices.
Submit a tip to the FBI
In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 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.
Related coverage
For more coverage, search “Jan. 6” on Augusta Free Press.
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Crystal Graham
