A Florida man has been taken into custody for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers and other offenses connected to the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. This incident disrupted a joint session of Congress that was convened to count electoral votes from the 2020 presidential election.
George Gonzalez, aged 46, from Brandon, Florida, faces felony charges in the District of Columbia. These include assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, obstruction during a civil disorder, and destruction of government property.
Gonzalez also faces six misdemeanor charges: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a restricted area; engaging in physical violence in a restricted area; disorderly conduct in the Capitol building; committing an act of physical violence on Capitol grounds or buildings; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
The FBI arrested Gonzalez on December 9, 2024, in Tampa. He made his initial court appearance in the Middle District of Florida.
Court documents indicate that video evidence and CCTV footage show Gonzalez entering Capitol grounds via the West Front on January 6. His actions reportedly included breaking a window to enter the building and confronting police officers inside.
At approximately 2:10 p.m., Gonzalez allegedly climbed Senate stairs to the Upper West Terrace and struck a windowpane at the Senate Wing Door. He shattered an adjacent pane with his second strike. By around 2:13 p.m., he reportedly climbed into the window frame, kicked broken glass onto the floor, and entered the Capitol. The Architect of the Capitol assessed damage to this window at over $1,000.
Inside the building, Gonzalez is alleged to have joined rioters at the Crypt where U.S. Capitol Police were blocking their advance. Around 2:17 p.m., he reportedly charged at police but was pushed back by officers before joining others who eventually overwhelmed them.
Gonzalez later moved south with other rioters past police lines through various areas within the Capitol before reaching Statuary Hall by 2:34 p.m., where he stayed for about eight minutes.
By approximately 2:55 p.m., Gonzalez exited through Upper House Door as part of a group escorted out by police after spending roughly 42 minutes inside.
The case is being prosecuted by both U.S Attorney’s Office for D.C alongside DOJ National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section with assistance from Middle District Florida's office too while investigations are led by FBI’s Tampa & Washington Field Offices identifying him as AFO BOLO #479 using seeking information images supported further United States Capitol Police & Metropolitan Police Department too
Since January sixth itself nearly fifteen hundred seventy-two individuals across almost all fifty states faced charges related specifically towards breaching capitol premises including five hundred ninety plus charged assaults/impeding law enforcement classified felonies ongoing investigation continues
Tips can be submitted via calling one-eight-hundred-CALL-FBI (one-eight-hundred-two-two-five-five-three-two-four) visiting tips.fbi.gov
It should be noted that complaints merely represent allegations defendants presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt court law