Robert Keith Packer, a Capitol rioter widely recognized for wearing a sweatshirt that read “Camp Auschwitz” during the January 6th attack, was arrested this week in connection with a violent dog attack in Virginia that left four people injured.
Packer, 60, of Newport News, now faces multiple charges, including a felony count of “animal attack resulting from owner’s disregard for human life,” according to ABC News. Additional charges include two counts of attacking while at large, one count of dogs running in a pack, two counts of owning a vicious dog, and two counts of failing to have a city license, said Wayne Gilbert, the city’s superintendent of animal welfare, in a statement to 13 News Now.
The arrest follows a Monday incident in which authorities responded to reports of “two vicious canines” attacking residents. Four people were hospitalized with injuries; one victim is reportedly at risk of losing an arm. “My husband and all the other neighbors cracked the door, and were all yelling to try and get the dogs away from her,” one neighbor told 13 News Now. “It was just horrible.”
The dogs involved—identified as Dogo Argentinos—were taken into custody. Investigators later removed additional animals from Packer’s property, including one adult dog, six puppies, four live rabbits, and one deceased rabbit.
Neighbors say they had long feared the dogs. “They’ve always been aggressive,” one resident noted.
Packer had previously pleaded guilty in 2022 to a misdemeanor charge related to the Capitol riot and served 75 days in jail. While he was not accused of violent conduct on January 6th, the judge called his “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirt “incredibly offensive.” Federal prosecutors described him as a repeat offender with a criminal record spanning 25 years, including 21 prior convictions for offenses such as DUI, larceny, drug possession, and forgery.
Earlier this year, Packer was among approximately 1,500 individuals pardoned by former President Donald Trump for their roles in the Capitol attack.