Maryland man who worked for HHS on Jan. 6 convicted of assaulting police, acquitted of weapons charges

A Maryland man who was working for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Jan. 6 was convicted last week of assaulting police during the Capitol riot, but acquitted of multiple weapons-related charges.

Adam Ryan Obest, of Thurmont, was arrested in June 2023 after a confidential human source identified him to federal investigators as a man pictured in wanted images publicized by the FBI. He was indicted two months later on eight counts, including four felony counts alleging he wielded a flagpole as a weapon on Jan. 6.

In charging documents, investigators said Obest can be seen in body worn camera footage from Jan. 6 engaging a line of police at the Capitol with a flagpole and then attempting to disarm an officer of their baton. A source told the FBI that a man resembling Obest had also engaged in a verbal altercation with counter-protesters during the Nov. 14, 2020, Million MAGA March in D.C. During the altercation, the man took off his shirt and revealed two tattoos – an American flag on his left shoulder and the word “OBEST” on his right – that Obest also has.

Read more: WUSA9