Sandy MaloneWashington, DC – Two U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers were injured on Wednesday when a man lobbed a Molotov cocktail at them near Union Station.
The incident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on July 6 when USCP officers responded to a 911 call about a man who had Molotov cocktails on Massachusetts Avenue, NW, just west of North Capitol Street, according to a press release from the police department.
When officers approached the suspect, who was trying to light one of the incendiary devices in his possession, the man threw one of the glass bottles at them.
The suspect tried to flee but the officers quickly nabbed him, according to the press release.
USCP said the suspect dropped the other Molotov cocktail he had been holding when he was taken into custody.
Officials said the USCP Hazardous Material Response Team responded to the scene and determined that the tequila bottle stuffed with a sock the suspect had carried was filled with a petroleum-based accelerant, the press release read.
USCP officers arrested a man with two Molotov cocktails around 3:30 p.m. along Massachusetts Avenue, west of North Capitol Street.
There is no indication this was related to the Capitol, Members of Congress, or any protests.
More details to come in a news release this evening. pic.twitter.com/OuEXgFGfCc
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) July 6, 2022
“Both of our officers were treated for minor injuries,” USCP Acting Assistant Chief for Uniformed Operations Sean Gallagher said.
Thankfully they are going to be okay,” Assistant Chief Gallagher said. “We appreciate their quick action that, without a doubt, kept the community safer.”
Police recovered a backpack at the scene that contained two other bottles believed to be incendiary devices, according to the USCP press release.
Officials said there was no indication that the suspect – later identified as 26-year-old Bernard McCutcheon of the District of Columbia – was targeting the U.S. Capitol or lawmakers, nor was he believed to have been involved in any of the protests happening in the nearby area.
Capitol Police say two officers sustained "minor injuries" after a man threw an unlit molotov cocktail at them.
"There is no indication the man was targeting the U.S. Capitol or Members of Congress. It is also not believed the suspect was involved in any protests in the area." pic.twitter.com/4PCu5SWZCZ
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) July 7, 2022
USCP said McCutcheon was arrested and charged with assault on a police officer, possession of a Molotov cocktail, and assault with a deadly weapon.
Holly Matkin
