Dahlquist has pleaded not guilty to the Jan. 6 charges

HELENA – This week, former Helena Rural Fire Chief Frank Dahlquist, accused of assaulting police during the January 6, 2021 riot, pleaded not guilty to federal charges in his arraignment.

A grand jury indicted Dahlquist on nine counts, including: civil disorder; two counts of assaulting an officer with a weapon; entering a restricted building with a dangerous weapon; disturbing order in a building or prohibited area; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or area; disorderly conduct at the Capitol; act of physical violence at the Capitol; and parades, demonstrations, or pickets at the Capitol.

Court documents show Dahlquist was charged with pepper spraying and assaulting Capitol Police during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot.

Dahlquist was allegedly captured on video and photos from multiple entities at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, including officers’ security cameras and body-worn cameras.

Investigators provided photos and video of Dahlquist, with his face covered, allegedly spraying an “orange chemical agent” directly into a police officer’s face. Prosecutors also allege he was captured on a body-worn camera allegedly assaulting another police officer.

Dahlquist is further accused of entering the Capitol, remaining there for approximately half an hour, and then remaining on the Upper West Terrace for another hour.

Federal agents said his former supervisors at the fire station where he worked in Issaquah, Washington, identified Dahlquist from photos taken at the Capitol.