Jacob Fracker is a member of the Virginia National Guard and a police officer in the small town of Rocky Mount, Virginia. On January 6, he joined the mob that invaded the United States Capitol and posted a picture of himself next to an outside fellow officer on duty with his middle finger raised in front of the statue of a Revolutionary War commander, according to with court documents.
Fracker and the other police officer, Thomas Robertson, were arrested last week on charges of intentionally entering a restricted building and violent entry or disorderly conduct on the Capitol. A public defender representing Fracker declined to comment. On Facebook, the Marine Corps veteran said he did nothing illegal. “I can protest for what I believe and still support your protest for what you believe. I fought for your right to do that, ”he wrote in a Facebook post after the riot, according to the complaint.
Robertson could not be reached for comment. He posted the photo on Instagram and said he was proud of it, according to a federal complaint.
A spokesman for the Virginia National Guard, who moved to Washington, DC, on January 7, said he would investigate the matter. The Rocky Mount city manager said that Mr. Fracker and Mr. Robertson were placed on administrative leave while authorities look into the case.
As the number of federal prisons in the Capitol riot has grown to more than 100, Fracker is one of at least 18 current and former police, fire and military personnel who were charged until Friday, according to the Wall Street count. Journal. They include a retired Pennsylvania firefighter accused of throwing a fire extinguisher at the Capitol police and a Navy veteran who calls himself the Shaman QAnon. In addition, Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt was shot and killed by the Capitol Police while trying to pass through a window in a door inside the building.