WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — A Sanford man was arrested Tuesday on charges in connection with the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach that happened in 2021, which disrupted a joint session of Congress that was convened to ascertain and count electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, 38-year-old Christopher Belliveau is charged in a criminal complaint filed in D.C. with five felony offenses: civil disorder; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon; entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority 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 restricted building or on restricted grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.
Belliveau is also charged with three misdemeanor offenses, including disorderly conduct in a capitol building; act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol buildings, according to the release.
The release stated that he was arrested Tuesday in Berwick by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is expected to make an initial appearance Wednesday in the District of Maine.
Officials said court records show Belliveau was identified among a group of rioters on Jan. 6 on the Northwest Lawn of the Capitol grounds.
"At the time, rioters in that area, including Belliveau, were congregated behind temporary fencing comprised of interlocking bicycle racks," the release said. "At approximately 2:10 p.m., the group of rioters, with Belliveau at the front, crossed the bicycle rack fencing and advanced toward the police. As he approached the police, Belliveau carried a bullhorn in his left hand and gestured at the police officers with his right hand."
Government officials allege that when Belliveau approached police, he pointed at an officer and walked away. "Belliveau returned, allegedly carrying a green canister with an orange safety cap consistent with bear pepper mace," the release explained. "It is alleged that Belliveau then discharged a canister at the police officer he initially pointed at and then fled the area. The officer pursued Belliveau but was knocked to the ground by another rioter."
Officials said that later, around 2:09 p.m., rioters overran a police line on the Northwest Stairs at the Capitol. In the minutes that followed, the release said hundreds of rioters then advanced up the stairs into an area of the Capitol known as the Upper West Terrace.
Minutes later, rioters broke windows next to a door to the Capitol known as the Senate Wing Door and effectively breached the Capitol. Surveillance video shows Belliveau allegedly entering the Capitol building at about 2:17 p.m.
According to the release, Belliveau went to an area of the Capitol known as the Crypt where rioters confronted a police line before exiting about 15 minutes later.
The Jan. 6 cases are 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. The U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maine assisted in this case.
This case is also being investigated by the FBI's Boston and Washington field offices, according to the release, with assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police Department, and FBI Boston field office.
Since the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, more than 1,450 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes connected to the breach. Of those individuals, more than 500 have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
The investigation into the breach remains ongoing.
Officials said anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Read the official FBI report here: