A Virginia man captured pushing against officers and using a police baton against law enforcement at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 breach was arrested Thursday.
Mark Mercurio, 56, of Bracey in Mecklenburg County, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers in protest of Joe Biden’s win of the presidential election.
Mercurio is charged with assaulting law enforcement and other felony and misdemeanor offenses related to his alleged conduct in the name of Donald Trump, who lost the 2020 presidential election.
In addition to the felonies, Mercurio is 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, act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
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.
Mercurio was arrested by the FBI on Nov. 21, in North Carolina, and he made his initial appearance in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
The case against Mark Mercurio
According to court documents, surveillance video footage captured Mercurio entering the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, through the Upper West Terrace door at approximately 2:40 p.m.
After entering the building, Mercurio proceeded to the front of a large group of rioters near the entrance and confronted a small group of U.S. Capitol Police officers.
At one point, it is alleged that Mercurio held open an interior door to the Rotunda staircase for an associate and others before heading up the stairs.
Surveillance video footage shows that Mercurio and an associate entered the Rotunda at 2:45 p.m., where Mercurio intermittently held up his phone, appearing to record the events.
At about 2:46 p.m., Mercurio and an associate briefly disappeared from the Rotunda and reappeared at about 3:01 p.m. The two then walked past a USCP officer and approached a man addressing the crowd with a bullhorn. Mercurio again appeared to use his phone to record the man’s speech.
Shortly after, it is alleged that Mercurio joined a mob of rioters who pushed back against police officers attempting to clear the Rotunda.
At approximately 3:08 p.m., Mercurio positioned himself at the front of the rioters’ line, confronting the officers.
Court documents say that at about 3:09 p.m., Mercurio shoved a police officer’s baton into their chest with both hands while yelling expletives, specifically, “I’m fucking tired of you fucking… [unintelligible]…”
Another officer nearby warned Mercurio not to assault police and urged him to leave.
Seconds later, it is alleged that Mercurio physically interfered with another police officer by pushing the officer’s arm downward while continuing to yell obscenities.
Seconds later, Mercurio used his right hand to push the officer’s left arm downward at approximately 3:10 p.m. while yelling “What are you fucking [unintelligible]?”
Mercurio then exited the Capitol at approximately 3:12 p.m.
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.
Investigation is ongoing
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.
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Crystal Graham
