Collier County man among those arrested for Capitol breach

Author: The Associated Press; Taylor Smith/ WINK News
Published: Updated:
Sketch of Michael Amos, 38, of Naples, in D.C. Superior Court on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (Credit: William J. Hennessy Jr. via CBS News)

A Collier County man was among 68 people arrested Wednesday during or following the chaotic breach of the U.S. Capitol by a mob supporting President Donald Trump.

In addition, three others from Florida were arrested, and officials say a Florida firefighter has been placed on leave after photos surfaced of him participating in the violent event.

D.C. Superior Court documents show Michael Jerrett Amos, 38, of Naples, is charged with unlawful entry and entered a plea of not guilty in court Wednesday afternoon. Records show he is being represented by D.C. lawyer Carl Messineo.

Messineo told WINK News late Thursday he had “no comment” on the case.

People who live in the same complex Amos lives at in Collier County were shocked to learn a neighbor was connected to the riot.

“I woke up with this whole thing on social media and everything,” Isadora Saraiva said. “I’m actually in shock. I wouldn’t expect that at all.”

Saravia lives in the same building as Amos and says everyone is very friendly.

“I wouldn’t expect any connection in Naples whatsoever,” Saraiva said. “And Naples is so isolated. You wouldn’t think about it. Wow.”

Saraiva says she might have run into Amos previously.

“We probably have. I mean, we know everyone from the building, you know?” Saraiva said. “There are much better ways of expressing themselves and being upset of Trump not winning and everything.”

Isadora hopes this can be a good lesson for everyone.

“I just hope people will try to understand everybody’s side better,” Saraiva said. “Everyone has their own opinions. We should respect that.”

Further details surrounding Amos’ arrest have yet to be released.

The U.S. Capitol Police also say John Anderson of St. Augustine, Michael Curzio of Summerfield and Matthew Council of Riverview are facing unlawful entry charges. It wasn’t immediately clear Thursday whether they were jailed or whether they had lawyers to represent them.

“The USCP is continuing to review surveillance video and open source material to identify others who may be subject to criminal charges,” Capitol Police said in a press release.

A spokeswoman for a fire department near Orlando said one of its firefighters was being investigated for participating in the Capitol breach. Sanford Fire Department firefighter Andy Williams has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome, said spokeswoman Bianca Gillett.

The photo shows Williams wearing a Trump hat while standing outside the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Another Florida man, Adam Christian Johnson of Parrish, was identified by numerous people as the person photographed carrying a House lectern while walking and grinning through the Capitol rotunda. There was no word on whether Johnson will face charges.

The Bradenton Herald reports that neither Johnson nor family members have responded to phone calls.

The top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia said Thursday that “all options are on the table” for charging members of the mob that stormed the Capitol – including sedition charges.

Michael Sherwin, acting U.S. attorney for D.C., said prosecutors plan to file 15 federal cases on Thursday for crimes including unauthorized access and theft of property, and investigators are combing through reams of evidence to bring additional charges.

“All of those charges are on the table,” he said. “We’re not going to keep anything out of our arsenal for potential charges. We will bring the most maximum charges we can based upon the conduct.”

Sherwin said 40 other cases had already been filed in District of Columbia Superior Court.

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