WASHINGTON — A Florida man was arrested yesterday for assaulting law enforcement officers during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, 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.
Steven Miles, 39, of Zephyrhills, Florida, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, civil disorder, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon, and related offenses. He was arrested in Zephyrhills and made his initial appearance yesterday in the Middle District of Florida. He was released pending further proceedings in the District of Columbia.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, Miles marched in a group to the Capitol, eventually making his way to the restricted grounds of the West Front of the building. While there, he and other rioters engaged in a confrontation with police officers who were protecting the Capitol. During this confrontation, Miles shoved and attempted to punch police officers. He then made his way up the staircase to the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol. At approximately 2:13 p.m., other rioters smashed in a window on one of the Senate Wing doors. A handful of people then entered the building through the broken window and opened the Senate Wing Door. Meanwhile, other rioters, including Miles, continued to smash the window on the other side of the Senate Wing Door. Miles smashed a plank of wood into the window and then entered the building through that broken window. He briefly walked through the building and then exited through another door.
A co-defendant, Matthew LeBrun, 33, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was arrested today on related misdemeanor charges. He is to appear later today in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
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 Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Tampa and New Orleans Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Capitol Police.
In the 15 months since Jan. 6, 2021, nearly 800 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 250 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.
An indictment or complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.