Man arrested at Capitol had torch and flare – NBC10 Philadelphia

A man smelling of fuel showed up at the U.S. Capitol visitors center on Election Day carrying a torch and flare, prompting police to close the building for tours for the rest of the day, police said.

US Capitol Police (USCP) said: As the man went through security at the Capitol Visitor Center around 12:30 p.m., officers discovered the torch and flare gun in his jacket. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger said officers found bottles with fuel residue inside the backpack, and an officer noticed a faint odor of gasoline or some type of accelerant on the man. He said that when they opened the backpack the smell became much stronger.

Officers arrested the suspect, a 28-year-old Michigan man. Investigators were still questioning him around 3:30 p.m., police said. Police have not yet released his name or given a possible motive.

Manger said the man had “quite a lot” of documents with him and planned to turn them over to Congress. Investigators were still reviewing documents and trying to unravel the man’s plans.

“It didn’t look like he wet all of his clothing… so it’s really unknown at this point what his intentions were,” Manger said.

Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger provided an update on the arrest Tuesday afternoon.

Investigators tracked the suspect’s previous movements and located his vehicle at 9th Street and Maryland Avenue NE. They said that scene was cleared.

Manger said the video shows the man slowly walking toward the visitor center and looking around. He said the suspect was wearing heavier clothing than necessary for the unusually hot November day.

Once inside the security screening area, the man hesitated for a moment when a police officer asked him to put his belongings in the machine, Manger said.

Manger said his department was working increased alert He is against any potential violence on Election Day, but “there is no indication at this time that this has anything to do with the election.”

Every state attorney general in the country issued a letter Monday condemning potential political violence.

Whatever the outcome, we expect Americans to respond peacefully, the attorney general said in his letter.

Last year, the News4 I-Team reported on the troubling possibility that politically motivated violence could overshadow this election year. Investigative Reporter Ted Oberg explains how some election workers are already being affected.

News4’s I-Team found that many states across the country are implementing new security measures to keep election workers safe.

Last week in Maryland, someone followed a poll worker from a polling place to his home. The person told police he wanted to “make sure the ballots were getting to the right place.”

Experts have been telling the News4 I-Team for months that there is support for: Politically motivated violence is at alarming levels.