Toms River man, 59, charged with assaulting cop in Jan. 6 riot at Capitol
WASHINGTON - More than 20 months after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, a Toms River man is the most recent suspect to be rounded up in the ongoing investigation.
Salvatore Vassallo, 59, faces federal charges of assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement officers with a dangerous weapon and for interfering with an officer during a civil disorder; both are felonies. He also has been charged with five related misdemeanor offenses.
Vassallo was arrested in Toms River on Wednesday. He had been an unidentified figure at the scene — No. 338 in “seeking information” photos — whom the FBI had sought to identify with the public’s help.
After an initial appearance in federal court in New Jersey, Vassallo was released pending a future court date in Washington, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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“Salvatore Vassallo was present in Washington, D.C., and participated in the unlawful events at the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021, to include assaulting a law enforcement officer,” read the complaint. “Vassallo was brought to the attention of the FBI on or about June 26, 2021, through an anonymous tip submitted to the FBI National Threat Operations Center (NTOC). The tip alleged that ‘Salvatore Vascallo’ (later learned to be Vassallo) urged a co-worker to meet up in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021.”
During the attack on the Capitol, authorities allege Vassallo illegally entered the grounds even though he had been first turned away by an officer at 3:48 p.m. that day.
Surveillance footage from the complex, police body-worn cameras and video shot by others at the scene that were later posted online, showed that Vassallo then hopped over a railing to join a mob that had confronted law enforcement officers on the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol, near the Senate Wing Door and the Senate Fire Door, according to court documents.
About 4:26 p.m. that Wednesday, Vassallo emerged from the crowd, faced the officers, lowered his face mask and appeared to light a cigar in his mouth, the documents said.
“Several seconds later, Vassallo, then abruptly and seemingly unprovoked, charged at (D.C. Metropolitan Police Department) Officer Mark Eveland who was in the process of assisting other officers and fending off repeated attempts by other rioters to resist and assault the officers,” the complaint stated. “Vassallo grabbed and pushed Officer Eveland with what appeared to be a significant amount of force.”
Moments later, as the other rioters engaged with the officers, Vassallo left the complex, according to court documents.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office is leading the investigation in the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting Vassallo.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the FBI’s Newark Field Office, the U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia have been assisting in the investigation.
Since the attack on the Capitol almost two years ago, more than 870 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the complex, including more than 265 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation into the events of Jan. 6 continues.
Anyone with tips can call 800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Capitol insurrection arrests: Toms River man charged with cop attack
