Two Virginia police officers are charged after taking a selfie during Capitol riot and 'boasting they were "f***ing proud" of it on Facebook'

 Two Virginia police officers have been arrested after taking a selfie during the Capitol riot and then allegedly boasting about their actions on Facebook. 

Thomas Robertson and Jacob Fracker, of the Rocky Mount Police Department, were charged Wednesday with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building without lawful authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

They had already been placed on leave after going to the deadly riot and posing in front of a statue of John Stark, a general during the American Revolution. 

In a screenshot of a Facebook post that was circulating on social media, Robertson allegedly wrote, 'CNN and the Left are just mad because we actually attacked the government who is the problem and not some random small business.

'The right IN ONE DAY took the f***ing U.S. Capitol. Keep poking us.' 

Sgt Robertson had told The Roanoke Times that he and officer Fracker, who were both off-duty, did nothing illegal in Washington on January 6, when a mob of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed into the Capitol after Trump repeated bogus claims of election fraud at a rally near the White House.

The Army veteran is said to have posted he was 'f***ing PROUD' of the selfie. 

Thomas Robertson and Jacob Fracker, of the Rocky Mount Police Department, were charged Wednesday with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building without lawful authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds

Thomas Robertson and Jacob Fracker, of the Rocky Mount Police Department, were charged Wednesday with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building without lawful authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds

Fracker in a now deleted post is said to have written: 'Lol to anyone who's possibly concerned about the picture of me going around... Sorry I hate freedom? Sorry I fought hard for it and lost friends for it? 

'Not like I did anything illegal, WAY too much to lose to go there but, ya'll do what you feel you need to lol.

'I can protest for what I believe in and still support your protest fro [sic] what you believe in. Just saying..after all, I fought for the right to do it…'

Five people were killed, including a Capitol Police officer and a Trump supporter.


Army vet Robertson is said to have posted he was 'f***ing PROUD' of the selfie

Army vet Robertson is said to have posted he was 'f***ing PROUD' of the selfie

Fracker in a now deleted post is said to have written: 'Lol to anyone who's possibly concerned about the picture of me going around... Sorry I hate freedom?'

Fracker in a now deleted post is said to have written: 'Lol to anyone who's possibly concerned about the picture of me going around... Sorry I hate freedom?'

Robertson said he does not support the violence that happened inside the Capitol. 'Absolutely not,' he said. 'For it to go like that is absolutely ridiculous.'

Robertson said he and Fracker went into the building at about 2 p.m. or 3 p.m.

'We were escorted in by the Capitol Police, shown around and told, `As long as you stay here, you´re fine.´' They stayed in cordoned areas, he said.

Robertson said he and Fracker were not aware at the time that the rally had turned violent.

'The Capitol building is as big as our town,' he said. 'Where I was at there was no violence. There was no fighting with police officers. The door was wide open and police officers were actually handing bottles of water out to people that came in.'

Robertson, pictured on the day said he and Fracker went into the building at about 2 or 3pm

Robertson, pictured on the day said he and Fracker went into the building at about 2 or 3pm

Riot police push back a crowd of supporters of US President Donald Trump after they stormed the Capitol building on January 6

Riot police push back a crowd of supporters of US President Donald Trump after they stormed the Capitol building on January 6

Supporters loyal to President Donald Trump clash with authorities before successfully breaching the Capitol building during a riot on the grounds last Wednesday

Supporters loyal to President Donald Trump clash with authorities before successfully breaching the Capitol building during a riot on the grounds last Wednesday

He told ABC13: 'There was absolutely no indication that we were anything but welcome to check out certain places. We did not participate in any violence or property damage.' 

On Sunday, the Rocky Mount Police Department said it notified federal authorities that two of its off-duty officers were present at an 'event' in Washington on January 6.

'The Town of Rocky Mount fully supports all lawful expressions of freedom of speech and assembly by its employees but does not condone the unlawful acts that occurred that day,' a town statement said.  

They said Wednesday: 'Two Rocky Mount Police Department officers were charged by federal authorities with misdemeanors stemming from their presence at an event in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021.

'The Town’s review of this matter is ongoing and the officers remain on administrative leave.' 

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