Arizona Man Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement and Other Charges During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

WASHINGTON - An Arizona man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges for his alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His alleged actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Jason Robert Tasker, 43, of Glendale, Arizona, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon and obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder. In addition to the felonies, Tasker is charged with four misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

Tasker was arrested on July 30, 2024, in Arizona, and he will make his initial appearance in the District of Arizona.

According to court documents, Tasker attended the "Stop the Steal" rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, and afterward made his way toward the west side of the Capitol building. Tasker then climbed the Northwest Stairs and helped other rioters lower down and remove a bike rack. Tasker then climbed down to the Northwest Lawn and joined a group of rioters that surrounded some United States Capitol Police (USCP) officers.

Tasker followed the officers around the Capitol building, yelling at them, including, "All of you are dismissed; go home!" Tasker later arrived at the North Screening Entrance on the east side of the Capitol. Here, a group of USCP officers were stationed behind a line of bike rack barricades. Tasker screamed at these officers, and within a few minutes, a group of rioters, including Tasker, broke through the barriers and entered the East Plaza.

Tasker then walked to the Senate Carriage Door and forced his way to the front of a crowd of rioters attempting to gain entrance into the building. Tasker then flung himself toward a group of police officers guarding the entrance to the building, who pushed him back. These officers then began to attempt to clear rioters from the building. Tasker then lunged at the officers a second time and grabbed onto two USCP officers.

After Tasker's alleged second lunge, an officer deployed OC spray that caused him to retreat. Tasker later joined a mob on the East Stairs at around 2:43 p.m. and allegedly entered the Capitol building. Inside, Tasker went through the East Foyer and into the Rotunda. In the Rotunda, Tasker began to take pictures with his cell phone as a police line formed to direct the mob of rioters out of the Rotunda. Tasker approached the police line, confronted the officers, and remained in the building until approximately 3:13 p.m.

After Tasker left the building, it is alleged that he remained on the Capitol stairs and made a phone call. Tasker can be overheard in a third-party video saying, "I was like the first person in, Momma." Tasker allegedly remained outside the Rotunda doors for over an hour and continued to confront police.

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 District of Arizona.

The case is being investigated by the FBI's Phoenix and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 42 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,470 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 530 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.