Washington, DC Police Officer, Michael Fanone, has become a well-known face, made famous by his injuries during the January 6 Capitol attack. Officer Fanone has been outspoken with media and at the Congressional January 6 hearings about his anger and depression resulting from his injuries and trauma on the day of the Capitol riots.
A Tennessee construction worker who pleaded guilty to dragging Officer Fanone into a violent mob was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.
The 43-year-old, Albuquerque Cosper Head, committed the act on January 6, 2021, outside the US Capitol, and admitted he dragged the officer and participated in the Capitol riots. According to prosecutors, Head admitted to listening to former President Donald Trump’s speech on the White House Ellipse that day, and that is when he made his way to the Capitol and pushed himself past the barricades placed by the authorities to the front of the crowd which had assembled at the Lower West Terrace tunnel.
The government alleges that during the rally, Head was wearing a camouflage “Trump 2020” hat when he made the deliberate choice to grab a riot shield from the already overwhelmed law enforcers. He pushed his way through to the front of the mob as the officers pushed the rioters out of the tunnel, where most of the assaults against the officers happened. At this point, Head turned to Officer Fanone.
In the pre-sentencing memorandum, prosecutors alleged that as the crowd retreated, Head wrapped his arm around Officer Fanone’s neck and said to his fellow rioters, “I have got one here,” while dragging the officer into the mob, exposing him to more violent attacks. After the officer was dragged into the mob, another rioter, Danny Rodriguez, allegedly held a taser to the base of Fanone’s skull. The crowd yelled, “Kill him,” and “get his gun” until he was freed from the claws of the angry mob.
While testifying on Thursday during the hearing, Officer Fanone said he was traumatized and injured by Head’s actions. “I will be glad if he receives maximum penalty for his crime,” he added.
“Your honor, I request you show Mr. Head the same mercy he showed me on January 6,” Officer Fanone told Judge Amy Berman Jackson.
While delivering the ruling, Judge Jackson made mention of the accused’s successful fight against drug addiction and playing the role of a father and caretaker. At the same time, she condemned Head’s actions and described them as “some of the darkest acts committed” in the country’s history. The “hand-to-hand sort of combat” in which Head engaged, she added, contributed to a brutal two-hour-long “medieval battle” outside the US Capitol.
“He was your prey. He was your trophy,” Judge Jackson told Head.
Judge Jackson highlighted that while this was happening, a “Blue Lives Matter” flag was flown above the crowd as the officer was assaulted. The rioters, Jackson said, admonishing Head, “Didn’t think blue lives mattered much at all.”
“Those who continue to stoke the fear that the 2020 election was ‘stolen’ must take personal responsibility that their unfounded claims contributed to chaos on that day,” Judge Jackson said.
The judge ruled that Head would serve 90 months in prison. Head did not say anything. His lawyers said he was embarrassed about his actions and remorseful.
