Just days after a congressional staffer was arrested for allegedly bringing a gun into the Cannon House Office Building, a second man has been arrested for the same offense, police said.
U.S. Capitol Police told News4 that officers discovered a 9mm Ruger handgun with six rounds of ammo in the clip and one round in the chamber in a brief case during an administrative search at the entrance to Cannon's rotunda. It happened around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday.
Ronald William Prestage has been charged with carrying a pistol without a license, said police spokesperson Shennell Antrobus. He was released on bond Thursday.
Prestage is not a congressional staffer. RollCall.com reported that he is a veterinarian and farm operator who is also president-elect of the National Pork Producers Council. He said he was on his way to see a congressman.
He has a concealed carry permit in South Carolina, according to records, reported RollCall.com.
Prestage's arrest came five days after Ryan Shucard, the press secretary for Rep. Tom Marino of Pennsylvania, was taken into custody and charged with carrying a pistol without a license, a felony.
"It was a total accident," Shucard told News4's Darcy Spencer Friday afternoon.
Earlier this week, he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
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Bill Tighe, the congressman's chief of staff, said Shucard has been placed on unpaid leave.
