South Dakota Man Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement and Other Charges During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON — A South Dakota man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including for assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

            Darrell Goins, 42, of Newell, South Dakota, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with six felony offenses, including civil disorder; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; and entering and remaining, disorderly or disruptive conduct, and act of physical violence in a restricted building or grounds using a dangerous weapon.

            In addition to the felonies, Goins is charged with two misdemeanor offenses of disorderly or disruptive conduct and act of physical violence in a Capitol building or grounds and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

            The FBI arrested Goins on May 9, 2024, in South Dakota. He made his initial appearance in the District of South Dakota.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Goins was part of the crowd gathered on the Capitol’s West Plaza, standing directly in front of a line of the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers that had formed to protect the building. While there, open-source video footage depicts Goins raising his fist in the air and cheering to the crowd of rioters. At approximately 1:50 p.m., rioters began to breach the police line protecting a staircase located at the north end of the West Plaza. Goins proceeded to join the crowd in pushing forward up the stairs and, before entering the stairway, Goins allegedly threw what appears to be a full, approximately 20-ounce plastic soft-drink bottle in the direction of a USCP officer.

            After throwing the bottle, Goins moved with the crowd up the northwest stairs before again confronting a police line attempting to halt the crowd’s movement. Here, Goins physically engaged with several USCP officers while attempting to break through their lines. During this confrontation with police, Goins made it to the top landing of the stairway that police were protecting. Eventually, however, USCP officers were able to wrestle Goins to the ground and bring him to a seated position on the stairs.

            Court documents say that the rest of the mob advanced to the top landing of the stairs, and Goins returned to his feet and remained directly in front of the police line. At some point in the subsequent minutes, Goins obtained a USCP officer’s riot shield and passed it off to another rioter. Eventually, other rioters succeeded in breaking through the police line and began surging up the remaining stairs at approximately 2:09 p.m. Less than a minute later, Goins joined the crowd and advanced up the stairs and to the Capitol’s Upper West Terrace.

            From the Upper West Terrace, Goins allegedly entered the Capitol building via the Senate Wing Door at 2:14 p.m.— one minute after the initial breach of the Capitol building at this entrance. Once inside, Goins moved further into the building and arrived at the foyer just inside the Senate Carriage Door. At that time, USCP officers were working to clear the building by moving rioters out through the Senate Carriage Door. Despite efforts by the police to move the crowd out through the Senate Carriage Door, Goins remained inside the Capitol building. He positioned himself just to the side of the door’s interior while other rioters outside the door attempted to gain entry.

            Goins later returned to the area inside the Senate Wing Door and exited the building at approximately 2:30 p.m.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Birmingham, Minneapolis, and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 40 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,424 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 500 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

            A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.