Another Long Island Man Charged In Jan. 6 Riot: DOJ

NEW HYDE PARK, NY — A Long Island man was arrested today as part of the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. According to court documents, he led a group of rioters into the building.

Officials have charged Eric Gerwatowski, 31, of New Hyde Park, with civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a capitol building, impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building.

Gerwatowski is scheduled to be arraigned later today in Federal Court in Islip.

According to court documents, Gerwatowski was not immediately identified following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. His picture, which was taken from videos from the scene, was distributed by the FBI.

Citizen investigators, who had nicknamed Gerwatowski "lord long hair," found other videos of him at the riot online. The FBI said it also received calls from two tipsters who said they knew Gerwatowski personally, and that he had admitted he was at the Capitol during the riot and had entered the building.

In one video that investigators found, court documents say that Gerwatowski was at the front of a crowd outside the Upper House doors. He pulled one of the doors open just as Capitol Police officers tried to close it, documents said. Gerwatowski then turned to the crowd and shouted, "Let's go!" the documents say, and directed more rioters into the building.

In another video, the man alleged to be Gerwatowski was asked why he was at the riot, and said "the commies are trying to steal the country." He went on to say he "100 percent" believed the election was stolen.

According to the court documents, Gerwatowski was seen inside the Capitol Building on security footage.

More than 725 people have been arrested and charged so far in relation to the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Gerwatowski is the seventh person from Long Island to be charged. One of the Long Islanders charged has pleaded guilty.