Ohio man arrested after attempting to enter U.S. Capitol with a hammer, police say

An Ohio man was arrested on Friday after attempting to gain access to the U.S. Capitol building in Washington with a hammer, according to the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP).

Arrest and Confiscation

The suspect, identified as Christopher Snow, 33, was undergoing screening by USCP at the Capitol Visitor Center at approximately 3:40 p.m. when his backpack, which passed through an X-ray machine, revealed the presence of a hammer, as reported by authorities.

Upon discovery of the hammer, a USCP officer initiated secondary screening to inspect the bag. However, the suspect resisted, leading to a confrontation with law enforcement officers. Subsequently, Snow was subdued by officers using a taser and was taken into custody. The hammer was then confiscated by the U.S. Capitol Police.

Police Statement

According to a police statement, "When the officer attempted secondary screening to look inside the bag, the suspect attempted to grab the bag and became combative." The statement further mentioned that several officers intervened to restrain Snow, resulting in a physical struggle before the taser was used to subdue him.

Charges and Investigation

Christopher Snow, a resident of Canton, Ohio, is facing charges of assault on a police officer. While the exact motive behind his attempt to bring a hammer into the Capitol remains unclear, investigators are actively working to ascertain the reason behind his actions.

Official Remarks

USCP Capt. Andrew Pecher commended the actions of the officers involved, stating, "These officers did what they were trained to do and stopped this man from getting into the U.S. Capitol. Great work from the officer who spotted the hammer, to the officers who quickly took the suspect into custody."

The U.S. Capitol Police continues to investigate the incident.