Two Texas Men Charged With Assault On Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach
Defendants Accused of Fighting With Police
WASHINGTON — Two Texas men were arrested yesterday and charged with assaulting law enforcement with a dangerous weapon or resulting in bodily injury and other crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, which disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Donald Hazard, 43, of Hurst, Texas, and Lucas Denney, 44, of Mansfield, Texas, are charged with engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, civil disorder, obstructing an official proceeding, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a dangerous weapon or resulting in bodily injury, among other charges. Hazard was arrested in Hurst, Texas, and Denney was arrested in the Brackettville, Texas, area. Hazard made his initial court appearance today in the Northern District of Texas. Denney made his initial appearance today in the Western District of Texas. Both Hazard and Denney remain detained pending further proceedings.
According to court documents, throughout December 2020, Denney used social media and other means to recruit members to join his militia group, called the Patriot Boys of North Texas, and travel with him to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6. On Dec. 30, for example, he attempted to use Facebook to post a photograph headlined, “Occupy Congress.” This post appeared to have been removed by Facebook that same day. As early as Dec. 25, 2020, he and Hazard were exchanging plans to go to Washington. Hazard also attempted to recruit others to join Denney’s militia.
On Jan. 6, according to the court documents, at approximately 2:10 p.m., Denney and Hazard—outfitted in tactical gear—were positioned on the west side of the Capitol building. They joined other rioters in yelling at police officers guarding the building. By 2:56 p.m., Hazard was in a hallway near the Parliamentarian Door. He briefly entered the Parliamentarian’s office, then continued down the hallway, further into the building. After several minutes, officers began to corral the crowd back towards the Parliamentarian Door. Footage depicts Hazard grappling with U.S. Capitol Police officers as he fell down a set of stairs under a scaffolding erected on the west side of the Capitol building. Hazard fought with one officer as they were both falling; that officer was knocked unconscious and sustained injuries to his head, foot, and arm.
Denney, meanwhile, grabbed and shoved a police officer at approximately 2:14 p.m. Minutes later, he attempted to grab a canister of crowd-control spray away from another officer. Then he picked up a long metal pole from the ground, which he swung at that officer. At approximately 2:24 p.m., Denney and another rioter grabbed what appears to be a large tube and launched it toward the line of law enforcement officers guarding the west side of the Capitol building. By 3:12 p.m., he had relocated to the vicinity of the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol building. He entered the tunnel leading into the building, carrying what appears to be a baton or stick. Denney participated in “heave-ho” efforts to advance into the building, and at one point, on the steps leading up to the Capitol building, he swung his arm and fist at an officer, pulling the officer further down the stairs outside the building.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
The case is being investigated by the Fort Worth Resident Agency of the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, along with the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Hazard as #267 and Denney as #258 in its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the Del Rio, Texas Resident Agency of the FBI’s San Antonio Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Hurst, Texas Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Capitol Police.
In the 11 months since Jan. 6, more than 700 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 220 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
The charges contained in any criminal complaint or indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
