Ashli Babbitt's mother says she was 'arrested aggressively' while laying flowers for daughter

The mother of Ashli Babbitt said she was "arrested aggressively" when she tried to lay flowers at the U.S. Capitol on the two-year anniversary of her daughter's death during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Micki Witthoeft, 58, was arrested on Friday afternoon for failing to "obey an order" and "blocking and obstructing roadways," the U.S. Capitol Police said after her arrest. Police said Witthoeft was "given multiple warnings to get out of the road," but "refused to leave, turned around with her hands behind her back, and asked to be arrested."

Witthoeft told Newsmax after her arrest that she planned to go with a group to lay flowers on the steps of the Capitol for "the four unarmed American citizens" that died on Jan. 6, 2021. Other than her daughter, who was shot by a Capitol police officer, the other demonstrators whose deaths were related to Jan. 6 are Rosanne Boyland, Kevin Greeson, and Benjamin Phillips.

Witthoeft and her group "were not allowed to" walk on the sidewalk because they were carrying "American flags," she said. Rather than walking to the other side of the road and being unable to lay down flowers, Witthoeft and her group walked on the road. 

She said she was "arrested aggressively." One officer specifically "was very aggressive," she said. "I put my hands behind my back and that's when he started yanking me around."