A prison term has been imposed on an Arizona man who assaulted at least three police officers on January 6, 2021, during the break-in at the U.S. Capitol.
Jacob Zerkle, 51, of Bowie, accompanied his brother to Washington, D.C., to demonstrate against “election integrity,” according to court records. On October 30, 2023, Zerkle entered a guilty plea to two felonies: civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or obstructing certain authorities.
He was given a sentence of 24 months in jail and 36 months of supervised release by a judge on Thursday.
According to court filings, on January 6, Zerkle joined a group of Proud Boys at the National Mall during former President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” event. Zerkle accompanied the gathering as they marched toward the US Capitol during Trump’s speech and joined the rioters in chanting “Hang ’em high.”
According to court filings, Zerkle then “assaulted a group of Metropolitan Police Department officers” who were on their way to assist U.S. Capitol police in securing the building.
According to court filings, Zerkle physically touched at least three cops and called them “traitors.” As a result, according to the prosecution, the officers were unable to assist in protecting the Capitol building from the assembling mob.
On March 15, 2022, Zerkle was taken into custody by the FBI in Arizona.
“In the 37 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,313 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 469 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony,” prosecutors stated.
