Man Arrested for Theft at Capitol After Breaking Away from Public Tour

On June 17, a theft incident occurred at the Capitol when a man, David Octavius Daffin, broke away from a public tour and allegedly stole six phones, a smartwatch, and earphones. The items had been left in open storage without locks outside a secure facility. Less than 45 minutes after the theft, Daffin was apprehended while attempting to flee in a vehicle, and the stolen items were recovered. Consequently, lock boxes have been installed in the hall to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Multiple Arrests and Prohibited Return

It was revealed that the Capitol phone theft was not Daffin’s first offense on the premises. On June 12, he had unlawfully entered a congressional employee's vehicle, resulting in his initial arrest. Despite being released after the phone theft incident, Daffin returned to the Capitol on Saturday and was subsequently arrested for breaching the conditions of his release, which prohibited him from returning to the Capitol.

Daffin is facing charges of theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, and receiving stolen property.

He was found to be aware of the stay-away order and his unauthorized presence at the Senate door of the Capitol was documented in the crime summary.

Capitol Police's Response

"Thankfully our Rapid Response Team (officers on bicycles) and officers with our Special Operations Division arrested Daffin before he could get away and quickly returned the staff’s items," Capitol Police stated.

In response to these incidents, Capitol Police emphasized their dedication to ensuring safety within the Capitol grounds considering the influx of employees, tourists, protesters, and visitors on a daily basis. The force continues to patrol the extensive area, covering 570 acres and millions of square feet, which is not only open to the public but also densely populated.