Posted:
Updated:
(The Hill) – Authorities have detained a man from Mississippi after an incident outside the U.S. Capitol, according to a statement from the U.S. Capitol Police on Monday. The man was reportedly seen with a handgun on his lap at the Capitol’s North Barricade.
The individual in question, 67-year-old Wendell J. Royster from Columbia, Mississippi, has been charged with carrying a pistol without a license and lacking a permit for the firearm, the USCP confirmed.
At around 11:22 a.m., Royster drove a rented gray Ford Bronco to the North Barricade on Constitution Avenue before asking nearby officers for directions to the Supreme Court building. The officer saw the gun in the man’s lap, USCP said, and ordered him to raise his hands.
Several USCP officers surrounded the Ford before officers arrested Royster. Police said the arrest took place within two minutes of Royster pulling up to the barricade, as a large police presence could be seen in the area around the barricade.
A dog was found chained inside the Ford. Officers gave the dog water before animal control officers arrived and took custody of it.
Investigators believe the incident was not connected to Congress, USCP said. The North Barricade was closed off to allow investigators to search the area following the arrest.
The incident took place after lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill after a weeklong recess, as well as the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) from an aortic dissection on Saturday night.