MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Federal officials have charged Morgantown business owner, George Tanios, 39, and another man, Julian Khater, 32, of Pennsylvania, in connection with the assault on three Capitol police officers on January 6. One of the officers, Brian Sicknick later died. The cause of death has not been determined.
Both men face multiple charges in connection with the assault that involved suspected bear spray, not the death of officer Sicknick.
In October of 2020, Tanios filed a vandalism report with city police after someone threw a brick through the window of his business on Beechurst Avenue. At the time, Tanios told WAJR News he believed the window was broken because he had a Trump sign displayed.
Morgantown interim police chief Eric Powell says Tanios was cooperative through the investigation that wrapped up quickly.
“We were able to identify the person pretty quickly,” Powell said,” Because he had been involved in a mostly verbal altercation with the owner prior to the incident.”
Tanios operated a sandwich shop in the Morgantown area for 15 years and was well known in the community.
“A lot of people had problems with him business wise and personally,” Powell said,” So, there were quite a few reports he made for destruction of property and harassment.”
Powell clarified the department interactions with Tanios were mostly related to his business.
“I think it was all stemming from dissatisfaction with the way he treated people in general,” Powell said.
Both men face nine counts including assaulting three officers with a deadly weapon — Sicknick, another U.S. Capitol Police officer identified as C. Edwards, and a D.C. police officer identified as B. Chapman. The two are also charged with civil disorder and obstruction of a congressional proceeding.
The charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
“There were a few run ins we had with him, but nothing earth shattering,” Powell said,” A traffic citation here, a couple of other incidents, but nothing that stood out to me.”