A man sporting a “Donald Trump” baseball who “blind-sided” a Capitol police officer with a “football-type tackle” and knocked him off a ledge during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was arrested in New York this Wednesday, Law&Crime reports.
Ralph Joseph Celentano III, 54, is facing seven federal charges which include assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, civil disorder, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, and other related offenses.
The officer who was assaulted by Celentano has been identified only as “Officer K.E.” During the riot, he was quoted as saying, “I didn’t survive a war to go out like this.”
“Officer K.E. stated his main concern was getting up so he would not be ‘stomped on,’” An FBI affidavit states. “He went on to state that he was frightened and no longer felt safe once he was on the lower terrace amongst such a large crowd. Officer K.E. said he probably sustained injuries during the fall, but he had so much adrenaline at that time that he could not be sure. After January 6, 2021, Officer K.E. did find bumps and bruises on his body but did not seek medical attention.”
Law&Crime reports that the FBI saif that they spotted Celentano in an “open source video,” where he can be seen approaching Officer K.E. from behind and knocking him over the ledge.
“Your affiant believes Celentano is the person who pushed officer K.E. based on his hair length, jacket, flag he carried, and very distinct folding chair strapped to his back,” the unidentified FBI agent wrote.
