Photograph provided by Witness-2, via U.S. Justice Department
WASHINGTON, D.C. – An Iowa man allegedly went to the U.S. Capitol and was involved in the treacherous insurrection on January 6, 2021, and after bragging about it on Facebook and being turned in by a combination of numerous informants, faces federal charges.
The Justice Department announced that on May 3, 2022, 41-year-old Chad Heathcote A.K.A “D-love” of West Des Moines was charged with the following crimes:
– 18 U.S.C. § 1752(a)(1) and (2) – Enter and Remain with Intent to Impede or Disrupt an Official Proceeding in a Restricted Building;
– 40 U.S.C. § 5104(e)(2)(D) and (G) – Disorderly or Disruptive Conduct in the Capitol Buildings or Grounds, Parade, Demonstrate, or Picket in any of the Capitol Buildings.
A warrant for the arrest of Chad Heathcote was immediately issued by federal authorities.
According to documents released by the Justice Department, a witness informed federal authorities that they were “friends with Heathcote on Facebook but that Heathcote deleted his profile on or about January 7, 2021. This witness did not observe any posts on Heathcote’s Facebook page depicting him inside of the Capitol. However, prior to the deletion, Heathcote was bragging about being at the U.S. Capitol. This witness provided the FBI with Heathcote’s Facebook username, which is Chad Heathcote. This witness further stated that he/she has not seen Heathcote for approximately one year but believes Heathcote lives in West Des Moines, Iowa.”
Investigators tracked down records from Facebook and Heathcote’s cell phone service provider Verizon and Google coordinates of his phone to zero in on him and allegedly prove that he was inside the Capitol as insurrectionists tried to prevent the certification of the 2020 election which Joe Biden won easily and legally over Donald Trump. Heathcote allegedly messed with officers and pulled on a door while he was in the Capitol building, according to a Justice department document:
“Heathcote can then be observed reaching for the door when one of the officers (Officer #1) moves between Heathcote and the door. Heathcote and Officer #1 engaged in a conversation, which is inaudible. Another rioter (Rioter) then moves towards the door, between Heathcote and Officer #1. Meanwhile, Heathcote engaged the second officer (Officer #2), also dressed in riot gear, in a conversation, which is inaudible. Rioter then pulled open the door and Heathcote walked into the U.S. Capitol, while Rioter held the door open. Moments later, Rioter entered the Capitol after Heathcote, and other rioters nearby started to enter the U.S. Capitol as well.”
Several other Iowans have been charged in connection to the deadly insurrection of January 6, 2021.
