Crime & Safety
Coronado Man Charged for Taking Part in U.S. Capitol Riot
A Coronado resident is slated to make his initial court appearance Thursday for his alleged role in the riot and breach of the U.S. Capitol.
SAN DIEGO - A Coronado resident is slated to make his initial court appearance Thursday for his alleged role in the riot and breach of the U.S. Capitol building, according to the FBI.
Jeffrey Alexander Smith was arrested Wednesday for allegedly taking part in the Jan. 6 siege in Washington, D.C., with court documents outlining that he was identified via text messages he sent and pictures and videos uploaded to social media that depicted him among the throng of rioters storming the Capitol.
He is charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, according to the Department of Justice.
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According to court documents, the FBI received a tip from a person "who has known Smith for an extended period of time." That person found a picture on Instagram of Smith inside the Capitol, which depicts Smith in a Trump baseball cap, with his cell phone raised in the air.
Smith also allegedly showed the witness a video he recorded of himself walking into the Capitol on Jan. 6. The witness could not find any other pictures that Smith posted online because Smith removed his Instagram account a few days after the Capitol breach.
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The FBI received another tip from a second witness, who said they grew up with Smith in Coronado. This person had screenshots of text messages from Smith, which read "I'm a Patriot" and "I stormed the capital." In the text messages, Smith also allegedly stated that he was taking part in the insurrection to send a message that Americans were not "going to take a fraudulent election" and "There is no way in hell I was going to drive 38 hours from San Diego and not walk right through the front of the capital building."
An FBI agent called Smith, who allegedly admitted driving to Washington, D.C., to attend Donald Trump's speech on Jan. 6. He also admitted walking into the Capitol, where he said he remained for about 30 minutes.
Smith also told the agent that he deleted his Instagram account due to receiving threats over his presence at the Capitol.
– By City News Service