Under the watchful eyes of the United States Capitol Police, an unusual discovery was made Tuesday, leading to the arrest of a man from California. The officers noticed a striking and archaic device—a guillotine—nestled in the back of a pickup truck, just a short distance from the U.S. Capitol.
The driver, identified as 35-year-old Philan-Tam-Duy Le from Julian, California, had apparently embarked on a cross-country journey before the startling sight caught the attention of Capitol Hill authorities, mere steps away from the Supreme Court premises.
Officials reported that the pickup was improperly parked, while the ominous apparatus stood visibly upright in the vehicle’s bed.
Upon this curious find, Capitol Police moved in to arrest Philan-Tam-Duy Le on Tuesday, citing the discovery of a guillotine positioned in his truck’s bed as the reason for the apprehension. (United States Capitol Police)
Le now faces charges tied to the possession of a dangerous weapon, reflecting concerns about his unexpected cargo—an old-world tool from a bygone era.
Investigators are now examining what motivated Le to travel from California and what prompted him to bring the massive guillotine with him.
“USCP investigators are going through the suspect’s background to learn more about why he came to Washington, D.C.,” officials said.
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The guillotine discovery is the latest in a series of unusual weapons found in and around the Capitol complex, one of the most heavily secured areas in the country.
Capitol Police arrested a California man after finding a guillotine in his pickup near the U.S. Capitol. (United States Capitol Police)
More than a week ago, officials found a homemade sword and brass knuckles at a Senate office building, Fox 5 DC reported. The items were reportedly discovered inside a man’s bag during a security screening.
Last year, a man was arrested after a machete and knives were discovered at a screening checkpoint in the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC), according to USCP. The 44-year-old man was arrested on multiple counts of carrying a dangerous weapon, officials said.
A massive guillotine was found in an illegally parked pickup truck near the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. (Ken CEDENO / AFP via Getty Images)
In 2021, a California man was arrested after officers discovered an unmarked truck displaying White supremacist symbols near the Democratic National Committee headquarters after midnight, according to USCP. A bayonet and machete were found inside the vehicle, officials said.