A Pennsylvania man is heading to prison after violently attacking police officers during the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. Joshua Lee Atwood, a 31-year-old from Burgettstown, will spend four years behind bars for his actions that day, which included hitting officers with metal and wooden poles, an officer’s helmet, and even a riot shield.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office shared the news, revealing that Atwood had pleaded guilty to assaulting officers with a dangerous weapon. The judge, Randolph D. Moss, sentenced him to 48 months in prison. Prosecutors had initially asked for a longer sentence, arguing that Atwood’s behavior was part of the chaos aimed at stopping the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential win.
Prosecutors described Atwood’s role in the riots as pivotal during one of the day’s most intense moments, referred to as “the Tunnel,” where some of the worst violence occurred. They painted a picture of Atwood as relentless and aggressive, attacking officers with anything he could find, from a piece of fabric to a metal baseball bat.
Atwood didn’t hold back with his words either. He called the officers names and accused them of betraying their country. As prosecutors put it, his actions were driven by anger at the democratic process taking place inside the Capitol.
Atwood’s attacks were particularly alarming. Court documents say he threw a long silver pole that hit an officer, then used a wooden pole to stab and hit others. At one point, he swung the pole so hard it struck an officer’s helmet and faceplate. The violence didn’t stop there—he even hit a state trooper on the head and neck. Officials called it a miracle that none of his actions caused severe injuries, crediting the officers’ resilience and training.
He didn’t just stay outside either. Atwood climbed through a broken window to enter the Capitol building, joining others in the mob. His presence and actions were among the most aggressive during the peak of the violence, between 4:51 p.m. and 5:03 p.m.
Atwood’s run-ins with the law didn’t end there. A month after the Capitol attack, he was arrested in Hanover, Pennsylvania, following a heated argument with police at the scene of a car crash. He was accused of yelling at officers and making offensive remarks, including comparing them to people “following orders like the Jews did” during the Holocaust. This comment sparked a confrontation with a tow truck driver, who was Jewish. Police later searched Atwood’s car and found marijuana and a pipe. He eventually pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and paid a fine.
Atwood’s Capitol involvement came to light when someone recognized him from an old mugshot, thanks to a noticeable scar on his forehead. His arrest in 2023 for unrelated robbery and assault charges further connected him to the January 6 footage, leading the FBI to take action.
Atwood lived in Burgettstown with his fiancée and their three young children before his sentencing. His behavior on January 6, prosecutors argued, was part of a larger effort to disrupt democracy, and now he’ll face the consequences.
