On Wednesday, a fire chief in Montana was arrested in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack. He is accused of shooting chemical spray “directly into the face” of a Capitol Police officer and at the face of a Metropolitan Police officer.
Frank Dahlquist, formerly a firefighter in Washington state known for his opposition to vaccine mandates, now faces multiple charges, including assault and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder.
Dahlquist, who became the chief of West Valley Fire Rescue in Montana and assumed the role in November 2022, was arrested in connection with the January 6 attack for allegedly spraying chemical irritants at a Capitol Police officer and a Metropolitan Police officer.
Dahlquist’s identification was facilitated by online investigators, commonly referred to as “sedition hunters,” who have played a role in the apprehension of numerous Capitol rioters.
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They assigned him the moniker #GreyScaleSprayer and uncovered a high-resolution photo from January 6. This image led to a facial recognition match with a 2022 news story featuring a video interview with Dahlquist.
As outlined in an affidavit, the FBI reportedly secured Dahlquist’s identification from two of his supervisors at his previous job in Washington in August 2022. Additionally, the agency noted that his cellphone records indicated activity near the Capitol building on January 6.
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The FBI reported that Dahlquist entered the Capitol building and remained on the grounds after leaving the premises, continuing to engage with law enforcement. According to the FBI, Dahlquist sent a text message after the attack: “It was a great day!! It got spicy, but I love the taste of Freedom.”
The initial report of Dahlquist’s arrest came from Seamus Hughes of Court Watch, a website tracking federal court filings. At the time of the report, Dahlquist had not yet responded to a request for comment from NBC News.
Over 1,200 individuals have been arrested in connection with the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Online investigators, often called “sleuths,” have identified hundreds of additional suspects who remain at large. To date, nearly 900 people have been convicted in connection with the events of January 6.
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In related news, a member of the Proud Boys, who actively encouraged the mob during the attack on the U.S. Capitol and boasted about having the police in retreat, has been sentenced to over four years in prison, as reported by prosecutors.
William Chrestman, 51, from Olathe, Kansas, received a sentence of four years and seven months in prison. The U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, D.C., announced the sentencing. Chrestman pleaded guilty in October to charges of obstruction of an official proceeding and threatening a federal officer.
As a Proud Boys’ Kansas City, Missouri, chapter member, Chrestman played a role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. According to the U.S. attorney’s office, he encouraged the crowd entering the building by shouting, “Go! Go! Go!”
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