A Midland man, 44-year-old Brien Burton has been indicted on seven federal crimes, with a maximum punishment of over a decade.
He allegedly assaulted police officers and trespassed at the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, 2021. He is the 32nd Michigander to be charged with crimes related to the riot.
Burton has been charged with assaulting, resisting and impeding officers, along with civil disorder.
Body camera footage from Metropolitan Police Officers features Burton shoving and charging officers, the indictment says. Burton is said to have been shoved by multiple officers at the Capitol.
Burton was restrained but let go after officers had to “focus on the rest of the oncoming rioters.” He is said to have moved onto the tunnel, set up for the inauguration of President Joe Biden, to get into the building with others.
Burton was arrested on August 25, 2023, by the Midland County Sheriff’s office for an unrelated case. Burton willingly spoke to FBI investigators and identified himself in photos at the Capitol building.
He said that he was at the Capitol when officers charged at rioters as a means of controlling the crowd. Burton said that he was tackled by an officer. Burton believed the officer broke one of his ribs, but Burton did not seek treatment.
A search warrant provided access to a Facebook profile run by Burton under the name Brian Jewel. Burton posted a video captioned “Here’s how the capitol police treated me.” The video featured a man who looks like Burton charging officers.
A lawyer for Burton has not been identified. The FBI did not respond to a request for comment.
