A soldier at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, was arrested immediately after his discharge for alleged involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot, including assaulting law enforcement officials.
At a Glance
- Alexander Cain Poplin, a recently discharged soldier, was arrested for his alleged role in the January 6th Capitol riot
- Poplin faces multiple charges, including assaulting a police officer with a flagpole
- He was not in the military during the riot but later joined the Army in April 2023
- The FBI had been monitoring Poplin since February 2021 following a tip about his involvement
- Over 100 Jan. 6 defendants had military connections, accounting for 12% of those involved in the riot
Soldier Arrested After Discharge for Capitol Riot Involvement
Federal authorities have arrested Alexander Cain Poplin, a recently discharged soldier from Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, for his alleged participation in the January 6th Capitol riot. The arrest, which took place immediately after Poplin’s discharge from the military, highlights the ongoing efforts to hold accountable those involved in the events of that day.
Poplin faces several charges related to his actions during the riot, including entering restricted grounds, disorderly conduct, and engaging in physical violence. The most serious allegations involve his reported assault on a police officer using a flagpole during the chaos at the Capitol.
Military Service and Riot Participation
Interestingly, Poplin was not serving in the military at the time of the Capitol riot. He had previously been in the Army National Guard from December 2012 to December 2018, reaching the rank of specialist. It wasn’t until April 2023 that Poplin began active-duty service as an infantryman, joining the 25th Infantry Division in September of that year.
“Pvt. Alexander Cain Poplin served in the Army National Guard as a 91J quartermaster and equipment repairer from December 2012 to December 2018, and obtained the rank of specialist,” Bryce Dubee, a spokesperson for the Army, told Military.com on Thursday. “He later began active-duty service as an 11B infantryman in April 2023 and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in September 2023. Pvt. Poplin has had no deployments during his military service.”
This timeline raises questions about the vetting process for military recruits and the potential presence of extremist ideologies within the armed forces. The George Washington University Program on Extremism has reported that more than 100 Jan. 6 defendants had military connections, accounting for 12% of those involved in the riot.
FBI Investigation and Arrest
The FBI’s involvement in Poplin’s case began shortly after the events of January 6th. They received a tip about his participation just a month after the riot and had been monitoring him since February 2021. Investigators identified Poplin through video footage and images from the Capitol, which showed him wearing a black jacket, beanie, medical mask, and an Army-camouflage backpack.
“Court documents say that Poplin’s alleged actions at the Lower West Plaza contributed to the chaos as rioters confronted law enforcement officers who were defending the Capitol,” the release said.
Furthermore, court documents allege that Poplin boasted about his actions on social media following the riot. These posts, if authenticated, could provide significant evidence for the prosecution’s case against him.
Broader Implications
Poplin’s arrest is part of a larger effort to bring those involved in the Capitol riot to justice. Nearly 1,500 people have been charged with crimes related to the events of January 6th, with many being military veterans. The involvement of current and former military personnel in the riot has prompted concerns about extremism within the ranks and the need for better screening and prevention measures.
The case also highlights the ongoing debate about the nature of the events on January 6th and the appropriate response from law enforcement and the justice system. As investigations continue and more arrests are made, the full scope of the day’s events and their impact on American democracy continues to unfold.
