U.S. Capitol Police found three guns in a suspicious vehicle near the Capitol and the Supreme Court Wednesday afternoon, took three people into custody and charged an 80-year-old Georgia man with weapons violations.
Officers saw a small white van illegally parked on East Capitol Street on the Capitol campus about 3:45 p.m., and a K-9 alerted the officers, prompting a search.
Two men and a woman were detained, police said. The driver said he had guns in the van.
Officers found two handguns and a shotgun, which are not allowed on Capitol grounds, police said.
Police cleared the van about 6 p.m.
The driver, 80-year-old Tony H. Payne of Georgia, was arrested and charged with unregistered firearm, unregistered ammunition and carrying a pistol without a license. The other man and woman were not arrested.
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They told police they were there to deliver documents to the Supreme Court.
A husky puppy named Victor was also found in the van. Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards, who testified at one of the U.S. House Jan. 6 committee hearings, was seen holding the gray and white dog.
A relative of Payne told News4 that they had no idea what he was doing at the Supreme Court and that he was supposed to be in Virginia.
People were encouraged to stay away from the area of the 100 block of East Capitol Street.
East Capitol Street was closed between 1st and 3rd streets, 1st Street was closed between Constitution and Independence avenues, and 2nd Street was closed between Constitution and Independence avenues while police investigated.
