Oregon Jan. 6 rioter pleads guilty after spraying officers with bear spray: DOJ
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – An Oregon man pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement during the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.
Authorities identified the man as 27-year-old Andy Steven Oliva-Lopez of Milwaukie, who pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.
According to court documents, Oliva-Lopez drove from his home in Oregon with a friend to attend the Jan. 6, 2021 “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington D.C., protesting certification of electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election.
After the rally at the National Mall, Oliva-Lopez walked to the Capitol's West Plaza where U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department officers tried to prevent rioters from entering the Capitol building, authorities said.
Just after 2 p.m., Oliva-Lopez, wearing a full-face respirator mask, sprayed bear spray at several officers. Then, as rioters entered the Capitol -- as election certification proceedings were underway -- Oliva-Lopez joined others and climbed a balustrade outside of the building, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Authorities from the FBI's Portland and Washington field offices were able to identify Oliva-Lopez in photos and arrested him Jan. 23, 2024.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, since Jan. 6, 2021, over 1,500 people have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the Capitol breach – including more than 560 people charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
The investigation into the breach is ongoing. Anyone with tips is asked to contact the FBI.