Accused of assaulting several police officers and stabbing a police captain in the face with a flagpole during the Capitol riots, a former Green Beret and recent CIA contractor was recorded in a recently released video striking the captain before hurling the flagpole like a spear.
At approximately 1:14 p.m. on January 6, retired Sgt. Jeffrey McKellop, a former member of the 3rd Special Forces Group in the U.S Army, was recorded on video putting on a helmet and gas mask while marching with a large crowd toward the Capitol building. In addition to being a Green Beret veteran, McKellop became a CIA contractor who worked as recently as 2018 for the agency as a contractor in Iraq.
According to the criminal complaint, McKellop was recorded on multiple police body cam videos attacking Metropolitan police sergeants and lieutenants while attempting to steal the riot control spray canisters from their hands. Around 2:28 p.m., he allegedly pushed another officer out of his way before confronting a police captain who was firing a spray canister into the crowd.
Newly released police body cam footage reportedly shows McKellop picking up a flagpole from the ground and striking the police captain in the face. A few seconds later, McKellop appears to throw the flagpole like a spear into the captain’s face, which caused a laceration near his left eye.
Despite the fact that McKellop was wearing a helmet and gas mask while allegedly assaulting the officers, federal investigators were able to identify him due to his clothing and a unique U.S. Army Special Forces patch on his backpack.
On March 17, McKellop was arrested in Washington, D.C. According to his 12-count indictment, he was charged with Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon, Inflicting Bodily Injury; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon; Civil Disorder; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; and Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings.
McKellop has pleaded not guilty to all counts. Despite 22 years of service and three Bronze Star medals, bail has been denied after law enforcement officers recovered a flashbang device at a residence associated with him, his clothing from the Capitol riots, and a “go bag” in his car.
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