Hours after a separate weapon arrest amid increased security, a guy is detained for attempting to start a fire near the Capitol.#Crime #News #Washington, DC
Washington, D.C.A guy was detained on Wednesday for reportedly trying to start a fire in the vicinity of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., sparking a tense scenario. The arrest was made just hours after a Capitol checkpoint saw yet another concerning security lapse. As the people came together to pay tribute to the late President Jimmy Carter at his public viewing, the occurrences sparked worries about safety.
A Suspicious Blaze Near the Capitol
Officers from the U.S. Capitol Police Department responded to reports of a man trying to ignite a fire in front of the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial on First Street NW at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Officers arrived to find that the guy had parked his car on top of a bag and set it on fire. But once police arrived, the fire swiftly extinguished itself.
The 35-year-old man was arrested for illegal activity; his identity was not immediately made public. Further investigation was warranted after authorities discovered that the suspect’s vehicle had been spray-painted.
The U.S. Capitol Police Hazardous Incident Response Division was contacted by police when they deemed the car suspicious, but by 7 p.m., they concluded that there was no immediate threat. Accelerants were later confirmed to be present in the bag by investigators.
Another Arrest at the Capitol Visitor Center
Mel J. Horne, a 44-year-old local man, was detained by Capitol Police earlier in the day after he tried to pass three knives and a machete through a screening checkpoint at the Capitol Visitor Center, giving them another near miss. During the X-ray scan, officers discovered the guns in Horne’s backpack. Shortly after 2:00 p.m., the arrest took place.
In a statement, U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said, “Our officers responded quickly and effectively to these two incidents, which occurred just hours apart.”
Our officers stopped a man who might have posed a threat to the Capitol Hill community twice today. In this day of increased security, this attentiveness is essential.
Security Remains Tight Amid Public Viewings
Authorities promised the public that the viewings of President Jimmy Carter’s body, which were happening at the time of the incidents, would go on uninterrupted in spite of the two arrests. Police stayed on high alert all evening, and security measures remained unaffected.
Associated Subjects: Crime, Politics, and Washington, D.C.
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