WASHINGTON — U.S. Capitol Police arrested a 23-year-old Oregon man after officers discovered multiple firearms, knives and other weapons, including a bow and arrow, inside his vehicle parked near the U.S. Capitol, prompting an investigation into why he was at the congressional complex, authorities said.
The arrest occurred Wednesday morning after officers with the Capitol Police First Responders Unit noticed what the agency described as an unusual vehicle parked in an area reserved for congressional staff along the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Police said the red Subaru Outback had a large tricycle strapped to its roof and lacked the required parking permit. While inspecting the vehicle, officers saw what appeared to be a bow and arrow, a knife and an empty pistol holster in plain view.
According to Capitol Police, officers located the vehicle's owner, identified as Nolan R. Churan of Myrtle Point, Oregon, near the Capitol's North Barricade. Churan told officers there were firearms inside the vehicle. A Metropolitan Police Department explosives detection dog alerted to the car, after which investigators obtained additional evidence and recovered a rifle, a handgun, ammunition, multiple knives, axes, a rapier sword, a halberd and a bow and arrow, Capitol Police said.
Authorities said Churan was taken into custody without incident and faces multiple charges under District of Columbia law, including carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of unregistered ammunition, possession of a high-capacity ammunition feeding device and possession of prohibited weapons. Additional charges may be considered as the investigation continues.
Capitol Police said investigators were continuing to examine the suspect's intentions but stressed that, based on the information available, there was no indication of a connection to Congress or a specific threat to lawmakers. The agency did not announce any injuries or broader public safety threat stemming from the incident.
The arrest came amid heightened security awareness around the Capitol following a series of recent threats and weapons-related incidents involving government buildings and elected officials. Capitol Police have repeatedly emphasized that firearms and other prohibited weapons are not permitted on Capitol grounds and that officers routinely patrol the area for suspicious activity.
As of Wednesday evening, Churan remained in custody while the investigation continued, and Capitol Police said detectives were working to determine why he brought the cache of weapons to the area.
