Man With Suitcases Captured at Capitol

April 11, 2005

Man With Suitcases Captured at Capitol
April 11, 2005 – According to the Associated Press, police tackled a man in front of the west side of the U.S. Capitol on Monday. The man was dressed in black and carrying two suitcases. Police were forced to evacuate that side of the Capitol in fear of a possible explosion.

Capitol police spokesman Michael Lauer said the man had not said anything to police, some who were armed with assault rifles, before the standoff ended.

Among the officials whose offices are on the west side of the Capitol looking out upon the National Mall are House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

After the incident, Reid praised the Capitol Police officers’ performance.

"What they did to get ready to take that man down was extraordinary," Reid said. "We have the finest- trained police force of any place in the country."