Alabama man arrested in Anchorage on charges tied to Jan. 6 Capitol riot

An Alabama man was arrested Friday in Anchorage on charges tied to his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, federal authorities said.

Christian Matthew Manley, 26, is facing seven charges including assaulting officers, disorderly conduct and engaging in violence in a restricted building.

During an FBI interview in July, a person said Manley was involved in the riot, according to a criminal complaint written by an Alabama FBI agent. At a later date, officials showed the person photos from the riot and they confirmed Manley was pictured, the complaint said.

In photos attached to the complaint, Manley can be seen wearing what appears to be a bulletproof vest and carrying a large backpack. In the photos, many of which were screenshots from security cameras in an archway of the Capitol’s lower west terrace, Manley is seen spraying officers with pepper spray and throwing the empty canister at the officers.

Another rioter handed him a metal rod, which he then threw at officers, the complaint said. He also tried to force open a door as officers tried to defend the entrance, the complaint said.

Cellphone records showed Manley’s phone was in the area of the Capitol during the time of the riots, the complaint said.

Manley was arrested Friday and is being held at the Anchorage Correctional Center, according to court records.

It was not immediately clear why he was in Alaska, said Lisa Houghton, a spokeswoman at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska. Manley’s last known residence is listed in the complaint as Elkmont, Alabama, although a Facebook page appearing to belong to Manley lists his residence as Anchorage.

Manley will appear in court Tuesday morning in Anchorage, but the case will be prosecuted out of the District of Columbia, Houghton said.

Manley is one of more than 600 people across the country to be arrested in connection to the Capitol insurrection. Aaron Mileur of Wasilla was arrested in March for his alleged part in the riot, and an Anchorage-raised man who goes by the name “Baked Alaska” online was arrested in January.