NORTH TEXAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – Two more North Texans have been arrested for allegedly assaulting officers in the Jan.6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.
The Department of Justice said 43-year-old Donald Hazard of Hurst and 44-year-old Lucas Denny of Mansfield are charged with several federal offenses including assaulting an officer, obstruction, conspiracy and civil disorder.
Federal prosecutors said the deo are part of a militia group called the “Patriot Boys of North Texas” and used Facebook to recruit membership and plan their role in the riots in the days leading up to the chaos.
A text exchange from December 25, 2020 is included in the complaint:
DENNEY: So the 6th is going to be bigger than the last rally. I can’t tell you
everything I know over media here but it’s gonna be big. Millions
and millions will be there I can tell you that.
DENNEY: We will need linking up with proud boys11 though. I’ve been in
contact with a few different chapters and they’re helping us out
with safe hotels to get.
DENNEY: We’ll be staying in the same hotels that they are.
HAZARD: Cool bro let me look at the dates on the calendar.
DENNEY: Don’t worry about money. Just get the days off of work if you
can.
DENNEY: Tell your boss you’re going to do your part saving the country
from communist.
According to the complaint, Denny and Hazard were outfitted in tactical gear and joined other rioters in yelling at and assaulting police officers guarding the building.
Hazard is accused of entering the Parliamentarian’s office and prosecutors said footage showed him grappling with U.S. Capitol Police officers as he fell down a set of stairs.
Denny is accused of grabbing and shoving an officer and snatching a canister of crowd-control spray from another officer. He’s also accused of picking up a pole and swinging it at an officer.
The complaint said Hazard streamed a video during the riots on Facebook that states, “What’s up everybody back home? We’re here at the nation’s capital and we’re storming it. We’re taking the Capitol. S@*t is real here. This is America baby.”
Both Hazard and Denny are jailed pending further proceedings.
Click here to read the full DOJ complaint.
According to the DOJ, more than 700 people have been arrested nationwide for crimes related to the riot, which disrupted a joint session of Congress that was in the process of certifying the 2020 presidential election results.
35 of those arrested are North Texans.
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