A Texas man was arrested in Washington, D.C., on Friday after law enforcement said they found an unlicensed handgun and ammunition in his truck when he asked a uniformed officer for “information” on the White House.
Macias Santiago flagged down a Capitol Police officer and “stated he needed information about the Oval Office,” according to court documents obtained by Fox News. The 37-year-old admitted to having a firearm in the car after the officer spotted a holster in his pickup truck, and a subsequent search revealed a Smith and Wesson .40 handgun, two loaded eight-round magazines, and nearly 80 rounds of loose ammunition — none of which was registered to Santiago, the charging document alleged.
Anyone in possession of guns or ammunition in the Washington area is required by law to register their weapons with law enforcement. The locality also strictly prohibits assault-style weapons and magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
The Midland, Texas man, who told officers he spoke little English, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, unlawful transportation of a firearm, and unregistered ammunition.
Washington authorities have been on edge since the Jan. 6 Capitol riot that saw five deaths, including one police officer. Numerous threats were levied against landmarks and politicians in the days that followed, forcing limited attendance and the deployment of the National Guard for President Biden’s inauguration last week.
On Jan. 15, a Virginia man was apprehended by U.S. Capitol Police after he presented an invalid credential at a security checkpoint and was found to be in possession of a handgun and over 500 rounds of ammunition, a charging document alleged. Wesley Beeler later told the Washington Post that his alleged actions were an “honest mistake.”
