life is funny.
Posted on 01/18/2008 10:55:28 PM PST by gnarledmaw
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A tragedy might have been averted near the United States Capitol on Friday afternoon, where a man was arrested at gunpoint while carrying a shotgun and a backpack containing a samurai sword. And it now appears that he is a Utah resident with a long criminal history.
The man, identified by Washington, D.C. CBS affiliate WUSA-TV as Michael S. Gorbey, was spotted about a block away from the U.S. Capitol, near the Russell and Dirksen Senate office buildings at approximately 1:00 p.m. Capitol police drew their weapons after spotting the man and forced him to surrender. Gorbey reportedly gave himself up without resistance.
Following Gorbey's arrest, authorities and bomb technicians inspected a nearby vehicle -- a green 1980s model Chevrolet pickup truck with what appeared to be Utah license plates. However, it was not immediately known whether the truck belonged to Gorbey, but police believe it does.
Following his arrest, Gorbey reportedly told authorities that he was going to the U.S. Supreme Court building where he had an appointment with Chief Justice John Roberts at 2:00 p.m. Friday afternoon. That appointment, however, was not officially corroborated. A witness, though, also told authorities that the suspect asked for directions to the Supreme Court Building -- which is less than a block from the Capitol.
Inside the truck, officials reportedly found "items of concern" -- which included a bow and arrow and multiple propane tanks with electrical wires protruding from the glove box.
Roads surrounding the U.S. Capitol were closed while authorities examined the pickup truck. Police say a bomb-sniffing dog even detected the possible presence of explosives. According to authorities, weapons, ammunition and what appeared to be electrical wires were in plain sight inside the truck.
A bomb squad robot investigated the vehicle for several minutes before authorities shot it with a water cannon to break up any possible explosives inside.
Later Friday afternoon, authorities say a search of the vehicle turned up no actual explosives.
Police say the vehicle was not rigged to explode, but nonetheless it posed a dangerous situation.
"All in all, this is kind of a textbook response to a very dangerous individual," U.S. Senate Sergeant-at-arms Terrance Gainer told the Washington Post.
According to Washington, D.C. radio station WTOP, Gorbey is a Utah resident who has a wife and children living in West Virginia. However, WUSA-TV identifies his last-known address as being in Beaverdam, Virginia -- but acknowledges that it appears Gorbey has lived in many locations throughout the U.S. and has used multiple aliases.
Gorbey supposedly has a long criminal history that includes weapons charges in Utah and Virginia and was questioned by federal agents in 1994 for flying over restricted airspace at Camp David -- the president's official retreat.
WTOP also claims that in his reference to visiting the U.S. Supreme Court, Gorbey spoke of "taking care of business."
Officials say the building nearest to the suspect truck was the national Teamsters building, a national labor organization. That building was evacuated but there were no reports of injuries.
The NRA sent him to convince SCOTUS to come up with the right decision on the 2nd amendment case.
ping
life is funny.
It really doesn’t make any difference.
All large groups could have a total nut in their midst!
plainly a demoCRAT.
Were you referring to the kitty - or me?
If me, hardly. What I mean is that all one has to do is mention anything negative that can be linked, however remotely, to the Mormons, there's a bunch of Mormon-haters in FR that jump in, frothing at the mouth...
Contrary to MSM believers, Mormon Haters have been encouraged by Harry Reid not Mitt Romney!
Just another Klintoon supporter let off his lease to visit the White House.
Respectfully,
NSNR
Ping.
One report stated he was from West Virginia.
Yea, he might have shot at a CongressCritter or Supreme Court Justice, and missed.
More seriously, do we even know if the shotgun was loaded?
Besides< a shotgun? Wouldn't be my first choice as politician shooter, when and if the time comes> But to each his own.
Mighty convenient timing those nuts have.
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