Los Angeles Deputy Investigated For Role In Capitol Riot

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department is investigating one of its own deputies, who was among the crowd at the Capitol during last week's insurrection. Officials have not said if the off-duty deputy took part in the violent breaching of the Capitol in an effort to halt the certification of the Nov. 3 presidential election, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Thursday.

Villanueva announced an administrative investigation into the deputy's activities during the Jan. 6 riot. According to Villanueva, the individual had identified him or herself as being at the scene, "and that information has been passed on to the FBI."

Villanueva did not say whether the deputy took part in the insurrection or is accused of committing any specific crime. He asked that anyone with additional information contact the sheriff's department.

In a subsequently released statement, the sheriff said, "I am very concerned one of my deputies may have been involved in wrongdoing at the U.S. Capitol," adding that an administrative investigation has been opened into the matter and he has briefed the FBI.

The case is one of several involving off-duty officers from around the nation who attended the rally and were present at the storming of the Capitol. Two police officers from the Rocky Mount Police Department in Virginia have been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and entering a restricted space, the New York Times reported Thursday.

And at least one more member of the law enforcement in Los Angeles admitted to traveling to Washington DC to attend the rally at which Trump fired up the mob.

Details of the deputy's case released so far differ from a case announced by the Los Angeles Police Department in which an off-duty officer reported attending the pro-Trump rally but did not march on the Capitol. The officer said he returned to where he was staying and saw the Capitol being stormed on television, according to the LAPD.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.