WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice identified two men from Covington, La., in connection with the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Northshore father and son, Willard Purkel, Jr., 51, and Colby Purkel, 27, face felony charges of civil disorder among other misdemeanor charges in a criminal complaint filed in D.C.
According to the DOJ, other charges include:
- Misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds,
- Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds
- Disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds
- Parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building
According to court documents, the Purkels joined a group of rioters who forcibly entered the Capitol through the East Rotunda doors and pushed against police officers at approximately 3:21 p.m.
Both men were eventually escorted outside by authorities, which led to Willard Purkel climbing atop an armored truck before walking with his son to the west side of the Capitol, where they remained until officers attempted to clear the area.
The FBI arrested the two men on Thursday in Covington, and they will make their initial appearance in the Eastern District of Louisiana-U.S. District Court in New Orleans.
The court's statement of facts, along with riot images, can be seen in the PDF document below:
More than 1,200 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states in connection with the Capitol riots more than two years ago.
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