Geophysicist Capitol rioter worked as minesweeper: court papers

The Colorado geophysicist accused of beating and dragging a cop down a set of stairs at the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 worked as a real-life minesweeper, clearing military sites of unexploded bombs prior to his arrest, according to court papers.

Jeffrey Sabol, 51 — who was arrested in Westchester County after attempting suicide and buying a plane ticket to Switzerland in late January — worked to sniff out unexploded bombs for more than 20 years, his brother wrote to a Washington, D.C., federal court judge in an effort to get him sprung from jail pending trial.

“My brother has found a way to serve his country not via active duty, but working on decommissioned military sites to discover unexploded ordnance so the land can be used safely,” Sabol’s brother, a colonel in the Army, wrote in the letter.

“He has done this for over 20 years, first working as the person who discovers the materials, and then promoted to his most recent position of quality control and safety to ensure that all employees are protected at every level of this incredibly dangerous work,” he added.

In a separate letter, Sabol’s parents also said he’d traveled around the globe clearing military sites of bombs.

“[Companies] sent him all over the country as well as Guam, Midway and Afghanistan to clear military sites of unexploded ordnance,” they wrote.

Sabol’s attorney argued in the application for bail filed Monday that numerous letters by his relatives and friends vouch for his character — and show he is not a threat to the community.

Sabol, who grew up in upstate New York, was allegedly captured on video in the frenzied crowd at the Capitol, dragging a police officer down a flight of stairs during the riot.

The officer was then beaten by the crowd of Trump supporters, including by a rioter with an American flag, a prosecutor said in court.

Images also show Sabol holding a police baton against an officer’s neck during the siege, prosecutors said at his arraignment in January.

Prosecutors believe Sabol wrested the club away from another officer in the melee, which may result in additional charges being filed against him.

After the riot, Sabol allegedly fled to Westchester County, where he bought a plane ticket to Switzerland and attempted suicide on Jan. 11, prosecutors charged.

Cops in the New City found him in his car, “covered in blood, suffering from severe lacerations to both thighs and arms,” according to court documents.

Sabol told cops he was “fighting tyranny in the DC Capitol” and that he was wanted by the FBI when they stopped him.