NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A former NYPD officer has been arrested for allegedly taking part in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol Building, federal investigators announced Tuesday.
Sara Carpenter, 51, of Richmond Hill, is charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
She voluntarily surrendered Tuesday morning and is scheduled to make an appearance before a judge in Brooklyn federal court.
Federal prosecutors say she retired from the NYPD in 2004 and had previously worked as a spokeswoman for the department in the 1990s.
According to a complaint filed by a New York City detective with the bureau’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, Carpenter willingly sat down with the FBI on Jan. 18, stating that she went to the Capitol march on Jan. 6 after hearing former President Donald Trump “instructing people to rally back, not leave, and march.”
“Carpenter stated that she entered the Rotunda of the Capitol, where she observed other individuals walking around and leaving with items,” the complaint read. “Carpenter told FBI agents that she observed police yelling for individuals to get out, then pushing and shoving the crowd. Carpenter stated she was trampled and pepper sprayed as she exited the Capitol building.”
The 51-year-old took video from inside the Capitol Building, which she willingly shared with the NYPD detective.
Video from inside the Capitol Rotunda corroborated Carpenter’s story as it showed her recording inside the building while wearing a red hat, green jacket and holding a tambourine.
FBI agents conducted a search of Carpenter’s home on March 2, in which they found the clothing and materials she was carrying while inside the Capitol Building.
The 51-year-old is among at least several hundred of people charged for taking part in the Capitol riot. She faces only misdemeanor charges and will be tried in Washington, D.C.
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