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Man arrested with weapons near DNC headquarters: US Capitol Police

1:36

Capitol Police arrest suspected white supremacist

U.S. Capitol Police

September 13, 2021, 3:23 PM

United States Capitol Police said Monday they arrested a man in a truck who was armed with multiple knives, a bayonet and a machete near the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington.

A Special Operation Division Officer noticed a Dodge Dakota pickup truck with a swastika and other white supremacist symbols painted on it while on patrol around midnight outside of the DNC, according to a press release from U.S. Capitol Police. The truck allegedly had a picture of an American flag where the license plate should have been.

PHOTO: A machete sits on the front seat of a truck in an image released by the U.S. Capitol Police in Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2021. — A machete sits on the front seat of a truck in an image released by the U.S. Capitol Police with the announcement that they arrested Donald Craighead of Oceanside, Calif., who was driving a truck with swastikas and racist symbols on it outside the DNC headquarters in Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2021.
U.S. Capitol Police

Capitol Police say Donald Craighead, a 44-year-old man from California told them "he was "on patrol" and began talking about white supremacist ideology and other rhetoric pertaining to white supremacy."

He was arrested on prohibited weapons charges.

PHOTO: A truck sits on the street in Washington, D.C., in an image released by the U.S. Capitol Police, Sept. 13, 2021. — A truck sits on the street in Washington, D.C., in an image released by the U.S. Capitol Police with the announcement that they arrested Donald Craighead of Oceanside, Calif., who was driving a truck with swastikas and racist symbols on it outside the DNC headquarters, Sept. 13, 2021.
U.S. Capitol Police

PHOTO: The license plate is missing from a truck in an image released by the U.S. Capitol Police in Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2021. — The license plate is missing from a truck in an image released by the U.S. Capitol Police with the announcement that they arrested Donald Craighead of Oceanside, Calif., who was driving a truck with swastikas and racist symbols on it outside the DNC headquarters in Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2021.
U.S. Capitol Police

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"This is good police work plain and simple," said Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger. "We applaud the officers' keen observation and the teamwork that resulted in this arrest."

It is unclear if he was attempting to attend any upcoming demonstrations, Capitol Police said.

The development comes as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called a briefing for lawmakers from U.S. Capitol Police on Monday concerning ongoing security threats ahead of a planned demonstration at the Capitol on Saturday in support of those arrested during the Jan. 6 attack.

In this Aug. 22, 2018 file photo the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C. is seen.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images, FILE

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