A Westland, Michigan, male was arrested after officials said he tried to get into the U. S. Capitol on Election Day while carrying a flare gun, light lighter, jars of energy and what appears to be a statement.
U. S. Capitol Police said they even found a letter to Congress when they searched Austin M. Olson, 27, on Tuesday. According to a press release released on Wednesday, the Capitol Police said the letter was focused on his views on the Middle East conflict.
A gentleman afterwards identified as Olson entered the Capitol Visitor Center and waited in a column for the police testing procedure just before 12:30 p.m., according to authorities. Officials instructed him to throw his coat and bag through the X-ray system after discovering dubious goods on the X-ray.
Officers discovered a flare gun, light lighter, and gas after handing the man to police. According to the launch, Olson’s smelled like a result of fuel-dodging in some of his garments. The obvious statement and the letter to Congress were discovered after a deeper search.
Olson was handcuffed, moved outside to be interviewed, and arrested.
According to U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger,” Bystanding would have been a very different story than this one if our soldiers had never stopped this man.” ” All of our people continue to work, up, around the clock during this heightened surveillance environment”.
According to officials, the Visitor Center was shut down while the investigation was ongoing, and public journeys were restricted for the day.
Prior to the Capitol’s passage, police located Olson’s coupe, which was parked at 9th Street and Maryland Avenue NE. The Senate Officers K-9 System and the Hazardous Incident Response Division both cleared the vehicle.
On Monday, officials discovered Olson had left Michigan for Washington.
Researchers from the Capitol Police are looking into why he brought the goods to the Capitol. According to authorities, he is facing charges for allegedly having a prohibited tool, engaging in immoral behavior, and disorderly behavior.
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