Neptune Beach man arrested for his alleged role in breach of U.S. Capitol

UPDATE | May 19 · 1:21 p.m.

NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. — Action News Jax has obtained the mug shot for Daniel Gray, 41, who was arrested Tuesday for his alleged role in the January riot of the US Capitol.

Gray’s arrest report lists his current employer as the Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Gray is scheduled to face a judge at 3 p.m. today.

ORIGINAL STORY

A Neptune Beach man was arrested Tuesday for his alleged role in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Daniel Paul Gray, 41, is charged with federal offenses that include forcibly assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with police; engaging in acts of physical violence in the Capitol building; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, among other charges, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Gray will make his initial court appearance in the Middle District of Florida on Wednesday at the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse in Jacksonville.

The breach of the Capitol disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

According to court documents, Gray was inside the U.S. Capitol Building and he reportedly engaged in confrontations against law enforcement officers attempting to prevent rioters from entering the rotunda.

The Department of Justice said Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) body worn camera (BWC) footage captures Gray involved in an altercation with police at approximately 3:01 p.m. that resulted in an MPD officer falling down the western rotunda stairs and becoming visibly injured.

According to court documents, Gray posted a four-minute video to his Instagram account where he appears to be walking through an airport and describing his activities at the Capitol on Jan. 6. In the video, Gray said: “we start pushing the police out the back of the Capitol; we pushed them from the front to the back of the Capitol.” He described how the group arrived at the staircase and started “pushing them [the police] down the staircase,” and also said “this is far from over, that was the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life and stay tuned.” In social media messages Gray sent after Jan. 6, he further said, “Lol I was one of the first in the capital.”

Anyone with tips in the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

The charges contained in any criminal complaint or indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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