ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A Georgia man has been sentenced for assaulting law enforcement officers during the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Michael Bradley, 50, of Forsyth, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine, authorities said.

Bradley was previously found guilty of multiple offenses, including civil disorder, assaulting, resisting or impeding officers, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon and other charges.

Back in January of 2021, Bradley made his way toward the U.S. Capitol’s Lower West Terrace Tunnel carrying a baton in a hip holster, the Justice Department said.

According to the DOJ, Bradley raised his baton and approached officers, but he was sprayed with a chemical agent, which caused him to retreat temporarily.

Video evidence shows Bradley later returning to the tunnel and swinging his baton at the officers at least twice in an attempt to hit them.

Bradley then moved to the side of the tunnel and left the Lower West Terrace a few minutes later, the DOJ says.

The FBI arrested Bradley on Sept. 7, 2023 in Forsyth.

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WASHINGTON – A Georgia man was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison for assaulting law enforcement officers and other offenses committed during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. 

Michael Bradley, 50, of Forsyth, was convicted of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges for his role in disrupting a joint session of Congress that was convened to certify the 2020 presidential election results.

U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton sentenced Bradley to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $2,000 fine. Bradley was found guilty of civil disorder; assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers; entering and remaining in a restricted building with a deadly weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct with a deadly weapon; and engaging in physical violence with a deadly weapon.

Events on Jan. 6, 2021

Court documents and trial evidence revealed that Bradley joined rioters at the Capitol’s Lower West Terrace Tunnel, a hotspot for violent clashes with law enforcement. Between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Bradley was seen carrying a baton in a holster on his hip as he approached the tunnel.

At approximately 4:27 p.m., Bradley raised the baton and moved toward officers in an apparent attempt to strike. Officers used a chemical spray to repel him, prompting his temporary retreat. Moments later, Bradley returned to the tunnel and swung his baton at officers at least twice before leaving the area.

CCTV and third-party video captured Bradley’s actions, which prosecutors described as part of a larger violent effort by rioters to overwhelm police and disrupt congressional proceedings.

Michael Bradley’s arrest and prosecution

Bradley was arrested by FBI agents on Sept. 7, 2023, in Forsyth. He had been identified as suspect No. 154 in the FBI’s “Be on the Lookout” (BOLO) campaign, which sought public assistance in identifying individuals involved in the Capitol attack.

Since the Capitol breach, more than 1,572 individuals across nearly all 50 states have been charged with crimes related to the attack, including over 590 accused of assaulting or impeding law enforcement, according to the Justice Department. The investigation remains ongoing.

The FBI continues to seek information on unidentified suspects. Tips can be submitted at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.