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  • Arrested

Robert MorssLast Updated: September 8, 2022

Location

Glenshaw, Pennsylvania

Insurrection Related Information

  • Present at Capitol on 1/6

Litigation Details

  • Arrested in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania
  • Trial on Aug 23, 2022

Executive Summary

Morss was on the lower west terrace of the U.S. Capitol, where he led an assault on police and organized support from other rioters.

In body-worn camera (BWC) footage, shortly after 2 p.m., Morss can be seen unsuccessfully trying to push through a fence separating the crowd from the Capitol while officers repeatedly asked the crowd to back up. As depicted in the BWC footage, after being asked to back up, Morss grabbed an officer’s baton and tried to rip it away. He is seen again attempting to rip items, including a metal fencing barricade and a helmet visor, from the hands of officers. At 2:57 p.m., Morss is visible in surveillance footage at the entrance of the tunnel to the Capitol. Morss is seen directly confronting officers, pulling against their shields and passing the stolen shields back into the crowd. Around 3:07 p.m., Morss yelled out, “Hey everyone with a shield, back up and organize! Make a shield wall! Organize right now and make a shield wall.” Morss walked out of the tunnel around 3:14 p.m. and rejoined the crowd. At 3:48 p.m., he was captured on video near the archway entrance to the lower west terrace doors, where he and other rioters climbed through a broken window into the Capitol around 4:17 p.m. Video posted online shows rioters inside the room handing through the broken window furniture which other rioters used to attack officers guarding the lower west terrace doors. Morss can be seen around 4:30 p.m. inside the room and looking out after another window had been broken.

Litigation Details

DOJ Case Number:

1:21-cr-40

Charges

  • Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding Certain Officers or Employees
  • Civil Disorder
  • Robbery of Personal Property of the United States
  • Obstruction of Official Proceeding

Timeline of Litigation

  • Arrested

    Glenshaw, Pennsylvania | June 11, 2021
  • Arraigned

    June 30, 2021 "Arraigned 6/30 and pleaded not guilty to all counts."
  • Status Conference

    September 20, 2021 "Status conference set for 9/20 at 2 pm. Defendant remains committed."
  • Trial

    August 23, 2022 "Found guilty by the Court on 8/23/22 after trial of obstruction of an official proceeding, assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon, and robbery. Admitted to a stipulated set of facts."

Press Coverage

  • Three Men Found Guilty of Assaulting Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

    Published on August 23, 2022 Read at US DOJ
  • Pennsylvania Man Arrested for Assault on Law Enforcement during Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

    Published on June 15, 2021 Read at US DOJ

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