By Mark Hosenball

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – On Tuesday, a U.S. Prosecutor asked a Federal Judge to allow continued pre-trial confinement for a man accused of spraying a chemical against police officers in connection with the Jan. 6 attack by Donald Trump supporters on the Capitol.

Douglas Collyer, assistant U.S.A., said that there was evidence of “escalating behaviour” from Samuel Lazar, 37-years-old, Ephrata (Pennsylvania), who, according to Collyer, was “obsessed with firearms” and Trump’s false claim that his loss in the 2020 election was due to widespread fraud.

Collyer claimed that Lazar was not believed to have entered the Capitol building in the riot. In court documents, however, Collyer stated that Lazar, who was dressed in a tactical vest with goggles and his face covered “in a camouflage pattern,” made his way up to the Capitol building’s front. There he used his bullhorn to exhort rioters and grab their weapons.

Prosecutors stated that Lazar discharged chemical irritants at three police officers and later made a video about “macing police.” Over 660 suspects were charged with riot related offenses.

Matthew Wilson was Lazar’s lawyer and described the allegation as “an aberration”. He also said that careful analysis of riot footage did not prove Lazar had intentionally spray police. Wilson said Lazar did not present “any ongoing danger” and that Lazar should be placed in home detention, rather than in jail, where Wilson claims Lazar is in isolation “presumably for their own safety.”

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden sentenced on Tuesday a Texas man 500 hours community service after he unlawfully entered the Capitol Jan. 6. Eliel Rosa, the defendant, pleaded guilty but was not charged with violence.

McFadden was asked by the government to sentence McFadden with a one-month house arrest sentence and three years probation. However, McFadden said that he didn’t believe home confinement was necessary.