Sanford man arrested in Jan. 6 Capitol breach

Christopher Belliveau (Courtesy/U.S. Dept. of Justice)

WASHINGTON - A Maine man has been arrested on felony charges, including for allegedly assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Christopher Belliveau, 38, of Sanford, Maine, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with five felony offenses, including 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;.

In addition to the felonies, Belliveau is 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.

FBI agents arrested Belliveau Tuesday in Berwick, Maine, and he is expected to make his initial appearance today in the District of Maine, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice released on Wednesday.

Belliveau was allegedly identified among a group of rioters on Jan. 6, 2021, 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. Around 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.

The Government alleges that as Belliveau approached police, he pointed at one officer and then walked away. Belliveau returned, allegedly carrying a green canister with an orange safety cap consistent with bear pepper mace. 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, according to Wednesday's press release.

Later, at about 2:10 p.m., a group of rioters overran a police line on a set of stairs at the Capitol known as the Northwest Stairs. In the minutes that followed, hundreds of rioters subsequently advanced up the Northwest Stairs to an area of the Capitol known as the Upper West Terrace. At approximately 2:15 p.m., rioters broke the windows next to a door to the Capitol building known as the Senate Wing Door and breached the Capitol. Belliveau, as shown on surveillance video, allegedly entered the Capitol around 2:17 p.m.

Belliveau traveled to an area of the Capitol known as the Crypt, where rioters confronted a police line, before exiting about 15 minutes later.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting these cases. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine provided valuable assistance.

The case is being investigated by the FBI's Boston and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI Boston (Lakeville RA) Field Offices.

In the 41 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,450 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 500 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.