Illinois man accused of fighting National Guard troops during riot at US Capitol

CHICAGO — Federal authorities have arrested an Illinois man who they say can be seen on video fighting with National Guard members outside the U.S. Capitol during the deadly insurrection on Jan. 6.

Mathew Capsel, who also apparently goes by the name Mateo Q Capsel in social media posts, was arrested Tuesday on charges of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted area and resisting law enforcement.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Capsel was arrested after a former neighbor and a social media friend identified him from a video taken during the riot. Capsel was identified in part by a tattoo on his face.

The video was posted on TikTok by @mateoqcapsel, according to the criminal complaint. In dozens of cases, supporters of President Donald Trump flaunted their activity on social media on the day of the deadly insurrection.

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According to the complaint, the former neighbor told the FBI that Capsel was “known to be violent” and pointed agents to other videos of Capsel “on the frontline of the riot and breach.”

The complaint says that Capsel was arrested in southern Illinois. Records show a Mathew Capsel living in Marseilles in LaSalle County, but there is no listed phone number for him.

Capsel is at least the third Illinois resident to be charged with taking part in the insurrection. A fourth Illinois resident has been charged with threatening President Joe Biden’s inauguration.

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