Capitol riot defendant accused of beating officer is charged and released
A federal judge in New York released Sibick from custody on Friday after an initial hearing. The Justice Department has appealed that decision and said in court filings that Sibick should be jailed because he had “participated in a violent riot and robbed an officer” and is a danger to the public.
An attorney for Sibick is not yet listed on his docket. CNN is attempting to reach him for comment.
During the brawl outside the Capitol, Sibick allegedly grabbed Fanone’s badge and radio, and he later posted a photo of himself holding a police shield on Facebook, court filings say.
In a subsequent interview with FBI agents, Sibick said he had been at the Capitol but that he had tried to pull Fanone away from the rioters. Sibick told the FBI agents that he had more information about the assault, though he maintained that he was not involved, according to court documents.
Prosecutors suggested in court filings that Sibick had lied to the FBI about the stolen badge.
He first told the agents that the badge and radio had fallen off while he tried to help Fanone, and that he had thrown them in a trash can as he left the Capitol grounds. Later, Sibick said he needed to “recant” those claims and that he had disposed of the items in a New York dumpster, according to court filings.
FBI agents allegedly tricked Sibick into believing they were going to check security footage near the dumpster. Sibick told the agents he “wanted to do the right thing” and that he had buried the badge in his backyard. Sibick then said he bought a metal detector, dug up the badge and returned it to the FBI, court filings say.
More than 300 people have been charged so far in connection with the assault on the Capitol.
CNN’s Marshall Cohen and Evan Perez contributed to this report.