Local

East Liverpool man accused of striking officers during Jan. 6 Capitol riot

By Justin Dennis
Kenneth Joseph Owen Thomas (face visible), an East Liverpool man charged in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, appears in police body camera footage taken during the riot.
Kenneth Joseph Owen Thomas (face visible), an East Liverpool man charged in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, appears in police body camera footage taken during the riot.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — An East Liverpool man is in federal custody, accused of punching police officers during the deadly U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6.

Kenneth Joseph Owen Thomas, 38, of Pope Avenue, faces several federal charges including:

  • Assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees
  • Obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder
  • Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority
  • Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or on restricted grounds
  • Engaging in physical violence in restricted building or on restricted grounds
  • Engaging in physical violence on Capitol grounds

In body camera footage taken from the steps of the Capitol Building during the Jan. 6 attack, Thomas is seen repeatedly striking officers with his arms and fists, according to his criminal complaint.

"Even after law enforcement officers pushed him back, Thomas returned at least twice to punch or strike officers with his fist and forearm," the complaint reads. That altercation lasted nearly half a minute.

"Officers stated that this individual 'was one of the first to come in and start hitting [and] pushing officers on the line'" and that Thomas tried to kick their shields and punch around them, according to the complaint.

When officers attempted to disperse the crowd, footage shows Thomas repeatedly called for the crowd to "hold the line."

Authorities working to identify the Jan. 6 rioters weeded out more than a dozen incorrect tips about Thomas' identity.

Ultimately, Thomas' neighbor gave him up, offering information that positively identified him. A second tip came from the Twitter group #SeditionHunters, which has been working with law enforcement to identify Capitol rioters.

"The neighbor confirmed Thomas had, in fact, posted pictures and videos on Thomas' personal Facebook and YouTube accounts that were similar to the scenes depicted above," the complaint reads.

In one video Thomas reportedly posted to his YouTube channel, Thomas said the group of people he was with were "going to storm the Capitol."

In those posts, his clothing matched what he was wearing in officers' body camera footage as well as a local TV news broadcast in which Thomas was interviewed.

Thomas, wearing a camouflage "Veteran for Trump" hat identified himself as "Pi Annon," the organizer of a 60-vehicle "MAGA Caravan" that convened in Ashland, Va. before heading to the Capitol.

Thomas was arrested Wednesday in Birmingham, where he had traveled for work, according to Alabama media reports. He was later released, but with special conditions.

Federal authorities have charged hundreds of people in the Jan. 6 riot.

This story was originally published May 27, 2021 at 2:54 PM with the headline "East Liverpool man accused of striking officers during Jan. 6 Capitol riot."