Suspicious Vehicle at First Street, NW

October 21, 2005
6:00 p.m.

At approximately 10:30 a.m., on Friday, October 21, 2005, two white males occupying a gray, 2005 Chevrolet Impala rental vehicle with Florida license plates approached a United States Capitol Police officer on Capitol Grounds. The driver of the vehicle, after making an inquiry regarding parking on Capitol Hill, indicated that he had an explosive device in his vehicle.

The officer immediately directed the driver to park the vehicle in the 100 block of First Street, NW and requested that the occupants exit the vehicle. The officer observed a package inside the vehicle that matched the description provided by the driver.

The US Capitol Police responded by isolating the vehicle and effected the following street closures:

• Constitution Avenue from Delaware Avenue, to Third Street, NW

• First Street from Louisiana Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

• Portions of Louisiana Avenue, NW

At approximately 1:10 p.m., the US Capitol Police Hazardous Devices Section approached the vehicle and disrupted the package. At approximately 1:45 p.m., once it was determined that the package no longer posed a threat, traffic resumed its normal flow in the area surrounding the vehicle. The 100 block of First Street, NW, where the vehicle was located, remained closed while investigators collected evidence necessary for the ongoing investigation.

After questioning, it was determined that the passenger did not have information pertaining to the statements made by the driver, and he was subsequently released. The driver of the vehicle has been committed to a local mental facility for further evaluation. There will be no criminal charges placed against either occupant of the vehicle.

Two private office buildings in the immediate area were evacuated during the incident. At no time during the incident, were the Senate office buildings or the United States Capitol evacuated.