A man who allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at officers a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol was arrested on Monday.
Bernard L. McCutcheon, 26, of Washington D.C., was charged with two counts of assault on a police officer, one count of possession of a Molotov cocktail and on count of assault with a deadly weapon, U.S. Capitol Police said in a news release.
The incident took place on Massachusetts Avenue NW just west of North Capitol Street, where two patrol officers arrived at around 3:30 p.m. after receiving a report that someone had Molotov cocktails, U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement.
According to the officers, a man threw a Molotov cocktail at the officers as he tried to light it.
The man tried to get away, but officers stopped him, police said. He then dropped another Molotov cocktail.
It was “made with a tequila bottle stuffed with a sock and a liquid later determined to be a petroleum based accelerant by the USCP Hazardous Material Response team,” police said in the release.
“Both of our officers were treated for minor injuries. Thankfully they are going to be okay,” said Sean Gallagher, acting assistant chief of police for uniformed operations.
“We appreciate their quick action that, without a doubt, kept the community safer.”
Police said a backpack that contained two other bottles of liquid was recovered at the scene.
There was no indication the man was targeting the Capitol or members of Congress, and it is not believed that he was connected to any protests in the area, police said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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