A 28-year-old Michigan man was arrested at the U.S. Capitol on Election Day after he showed up smelling like fuel, with a torch and flare gun.
U.S. Capitol police said the man was stopped during the screening process at the Capitol Visitor Center at 12:20 p.m.
He was asked to place his coat and backpack down for screening, and after hesitating for a moment, he put them on the belt.
As soon as his items went through the screening area Capitol police officers saw “something in the shape of a firearm” and two bottles inside the backpack," according to U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger.
This is when an officer also noticed the smell of gasoline, with a stronger odor coming from the backpack.
The man, identified as a 28-year-old from Michigan, according to NBC News, was arrested, and officers found a torch lighter and flare gun in his backpack.
Police haven’t confirmed what substance was inside the bottles, but say they believe it is gasoline or some other type of accelerant.
The man had “papers” with him, that he said he was going to deliver to Congress and appeared to have heavier clothing than would’ve been warranted for the day, according to police.
When asked about the man‘s intent, Manger said it’s hard to tell at this point in the investigation.
“He had some articles in his backpack that he may have wanted to set on fire. It did not appear that he had doused all of his clothing in gasoline.”
Investigators are interviewing the man to determine further details and also tracked the man’s previous movements and found his vehicle at 9th and Maryland Avenue NE.
There is no indication at this time that this had anything to do with the election, according to Manger.
This prompted the visitor center to close for tours for the remainder of the day.
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