Prosecutor Benjamin Gianforti said Webster, 52, surrendered to the FBI’s field office in Hudson Valley, New York, at 2:35 pm. A police source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that Webster retired from the NYPD in 2011 and was part of the uniformed security detachment at City Hall and the Gracie Mansion – the traditional residence of the mayor of New York.
Reporting on the video from the camera of the body of the incident, Gianforti told the court in a virtual hearing on Tuesday in White Plains, New York, that Webster was seen allegedly attacking a policeman with an aluminum mast that had the flag of Marine Corps fixed to it.
Later, Gianforti claimed that Webster is seen in the video allegedly beating the policeman with his hands, tearing his equipment, which “made the policeman suffocate” because “he cut [the officer’s] in the air for a short time. ”
The prosecutor also said that Webster was reportedly heard on the body’s camera calling the policeman he was attacking “a piece of shit” and “communist mother”.
Webster was accused of assaulting police officers with a deadly weapon, obstructing law enforcement during civil unrest, intentionally entering a restricted area, disorderly conduct in a restricted area, involvement in physical violence in a restricted area and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds .
Judge Andrew E. Krause of the Southern District of New York said investigators showed him a video of the police corps camera and videos posted online, claiming that Webster is the individual seen in them attacking the police.
In describing the video in more detail, Krause said that when the man prosecutors say is Webster swings the mast, he “hits the metal barricade in front of the policeman several times”, and after that, “that mast is bent beyond recognition “.
“When he is disarmed from the mast, he does not take a step back,” said Krause. “The barricade opens and he attacks the officer, and they are fighting on the ground.”
Prosecutors asked Krause to keep Webster in custody before a detention hearing, citing in part the violent actions he allegedly committed during the riot and insurrection. During the pre-trial detention deliberation, Webster told his lawyer that before the alleged assault, he had been punched by the police
However, Gianforti said the Justice Department had reviewed the 10-minute footage taken by the police body’s camera before the alleged attack and found “nothing there to suggest that Mr. Webster was hit by this officer or any other officer” .
Krause approved the Justice Department’s request that Webster be detained before his trial.
CNN contacted the prosecutor’s office, the FBI, the NYPD, the New York City Police Benevolent Association and the mayor of New York for comment, but received no response. CNN also contacted James Monroe, Webster’s defense attorney, but did not receive an immediate response.
Monroe confirmed to the court that Webster was honorably dismissed by the Marines and that he is a retired New York Police officer. He said his client went to Washington to protest issues on which “Tom had a very strong opinion” and was “encouraged by our former president”.
“He is not part of a group, he is not part of any organization,” Monroe told the court.
Webster’s next appearance is scheduled for March 3.