Officer Michael Fanone’s near-death experience on Jan. 6, 2021, came to a denouement of sorts in court today.
When Fanone and other cops were defending a building entry point against a mob attacking them with “chemical spray, poles, bats, and officers’ own batons and shields,” a rioter told Fanone, “I’m going to get you out of here.”
“Thank you,” Fanone replied. That was premature; this guy was no friend. He wrapped his arm around Fanone’s neck and dragged him, in the judge’s words, like “prey” and a “trophy” into the screaming mob, yelling, “I got one!”
That rioter was Albuquerque Cosper Head (photo, above), 43, of Kingsport, Tennessee. At his sentencing on Thursday, October 27, 2022, Fanone testified that after choking and dragging him, Head him as another rioter tased him.
CNN says Fanone suffered a heart attack as rioters beat and repeatedly tased him in his neck (read story here).
Head and two other rioters were indicted in April 21 for assaulting Fanone (see story here). Head got 7½ years; Kyle James Young, 38, of Iowa got 7 years (story here), and Thomas Sibick, 36, of Buffalo, New York, is awaiting trial.
Head’s lawyer asked the judge for “mercy.” Seems to me he already got plenty of mercy. I don’t understand why these guys weren’t charge with attempted murder of a police officer.
And I really don’t understand why Law-and-Order Republicans are calling these people “tourists” and “patriots” instead of screaming for their heads.