Jan. 6 riot defendant tackled to ground in DC court after refusing to surrender

A man convicted of assaulting police during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot was tackled to the ground by court officers Monday after he refused to surrender when a judge ordered him into custody over threats he made against federal agents, according to reports.

Vitali GossJankowski, 34, threw his hands up and lashed out as officers tried to place him in handcuffs after US District Court Judge Paul Friedman ruled he would be jailed while awaiting sentencing.

GossJankowski managed to wrestle court officers to the ground, knocking over tables and chairs in the process, and wasn’t subdued until more security rushed in and joined the scrum.

He had to be held down by at least four US Marshals and FBI staff, according to CBS News.

The defendant was found guilty of felony and misdemeanor charges in March for assaulting officers “with an electro-shock device” during the riot at the US Capitol, according to the Washington DC US District Attorney’s office.

GossJankowski was initially allowed to remain free while awaiting sentencing, but he was called into a hearing on Monday after prosecutors reported he sent numerous antisemitic texts to federal agents in his case and made posts on social media in which he threatened to release their personal information, according to ABC News.

One of the texts was sent to the same federal agent who first arrested him in 2021 after the Capitol riot.

“Previously, the defendant had used his social media to track and publicly harass members of law enforcement and the FBI’s Washington Field Office,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing.

“This alone was concerning. But now, he has sent intimidating, direct messages to a specific law enforcement officer who previously testified in this case.”

GossJankowski’s attorney, Matthew Peed, said in a statement to ABC the hearing was “a confusing and emotional moment” for the defendant, adding that he’d maintained proper decorum throughout all his proceedings.

“The end of today’s hearing was a confusing and emotional moment for Mr. GossJankowski and not at all in line with the character he has demonstrated through his many months on release,” Peed said.