Frank Dahlquist first made headlines when he lost his job as a fire chief in Montana for refusing to take the coronavirus vaccine. He’s back in the news for his actions during the Jan 6 riot.
Making connections
Prosecutors identified Dahlquist in part due to his refusal to take the vaccine. In 2022, he appeared on TV as part of a story about firefighters fired due to Washington vaccine mandates.
Standing out from the crowd
Dahlquist’s unique facial hair helped investigators connect him to an individual recorded participating in the Jan 6 riot. Dahlquist can be seen in the middle of the crowd, confronting police officers.
Multiple charges
Dahlquist was charged with multiple counts, including assault and obstruction of law enforcement. He is accused of macing officers and can be seen holding the canister of chemical irritants in bodycam footage.
Outfitted for a riot
In the footage, Dahlquist is wearing a black hoodie with “1776” written on it, surrounded by thirteen stars. At times, a grey bandana covers his lower face.
Odd charges
According to unsealed documents, Dahlquist allegedly threw a piece of wood at officers, which fell short.
Confirming suspicions
Investigators spoke to Dahlquist’s former colleagues in Washington, who provided his phone number. That was used to prove he had entered the restricted area around the Capitol on Jan 6.
Incriminating messages
Dahlquist apparently texted an individual who had been convicted of participating in the riot. “It was a great day!!” Dahlquist wrote. “It got spicy, but I love the taste of Freedom.”
Public plea
In the 2022 TV news story, Dahlquist and other firefighters argued that vaccine mandates should be dropped. They argued that the mandates and people’s refusal to take them led to labor shortages, which put communities at risk.
Little sympathy
“Why is it so hard to get a Covid vaccine?” one person wondered on Facebook in response to the news story. “Stop whining like little babies and get the vaccine,” another commented. “These people are clearly just being political.”
Not your job
“Firefighters mostly respond to medical calls for elderly, sick people,” one Facebook user commented. “Therefore, it is critical they be vaccinated. They are supposed to serve & protect, not serve & infect.”
Reasonable desire
“It seems reasonable,” one user commented, “that the public can expect that the person responding to a frail person’s emergency should keep the frail person safe from acquiring a virus that is deadly to frail people.”
Sharp words
“Well, maybe we should ask them if they believe in fire prevention?” One user asked. “Ignorance and gross stupidity are not an occupational characteristic, [they] occur everywhere.”
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