A soldier currently serving in the U.S. Army from Hawaii faces allegations of attacking law enforcement personnel at the Capitol on January 6, subsequently boasting about the incident by stating, “we took our house back” and “Then we beat their f—— a– and stood for something.”
On Tuesday, authorities took Alexander Cain Poplin, 31, into custody at Schofield Barracks located near Honolulu. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has revealed that he is facing multiple charges, including assaulting officers with a dangerous weapon, civil disorder, trespassing, disorderly conduct, and engaging in physical violence within a restricted area.
Wearing a black jacket and a beanie featuring a yellow Gadsden flag snake logo, along with an Army camouflage backpack, Poplin was observed carrying various flags throughout the day at the Capitol, according to officials.
Poplin was initially spotted at a rally organized by former President Donald Trump on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., prior to heading to the Capitol, as detailed in a statement of facts released on Wednesday.
Around 2:30 p.m., Poplin was reportedly located at the Lower West Plaza of the Capitol, inside the restricted area. He reportedly carried a “Area Closed” sign in his left hand while holding a flagpole with a blue flag in his right. He faces allegations of repeatedly hitting a Metropolitan Police Department officer with the blue flagpole.
Subsequently, he reportedly shared on Facebook regarding the disturbances, asserting “we triumphed and stood for something” and “we reclaimed our home.”
The legal filings featured a purported screenshot of the extensive post filled with errors that states, in part:
“I was there don’t believe what the media is telling you the f—ing cops attacked us and we took our house back. WE THE PEOPLE have power and our government is full of corruption. I marched with Americans of all races and ethnicities today. Americans who came from China by the thousands handing out real educated information on how the Chinese communist party controls our minds, our health and our economy. People are blind. I’m telling you it wasn’t violent until the cops literally started beating f—ing people with boutons, tear gas, mace, and shooting pepper spray balls. Then we beat their f—ing a– and stood for something. It’s b——- and the corruption is real on both sides Democrat and republicans …”
According to court documents, he was taken into custody after his military supervisor recognized him in photographs where he was seen wearing an Army camouflage backpack within the restricted area of the Capitol on that day.
The attorney representing Poplin in Hawaii has not yet replied to a request for comment, according to reports from The Associated Press.
Over the past 44 months since January 6, 2021, authorities have reported that over 1,500 individuals have faced charges for offenses connected to the incursion at the U.S. Capitol.
