The U.S. Capitol Police cleared the scene of a bomb threat in the vicinity of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday evening, after a daylong ordeal involving a man who claimed to have a bomb outside of the Library of Congress.
At around 9:15 a.m., Floyd Ray Roseberry, 49, drove his black pickup onto the sidewalk in front of the Library of Congress and, while holding what officers described as a potential detonator, told a police officer on the scene that he had a bomb, prompting an evacuation of several buildings within the U.S. Capitol complex.
After a five-hour standoff, the North Carolina man stepped out of his truck and crawled to police shortly after 2 p.m., allowing people in the area to breathe a sigh of relief as authorities worked to determine whether there was an explosive in the vehicle.
Shortly thereafter, U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger told reporters Mr. Roseberry was taken into custody “without incident,” but that the area was “still an active scene.”
The Capitol Police reported later that potential bomb-making materials were collected from the truck, but no bomb was found.
Capitol Police determined Thursday evening that the area is safe.
Chief Manger said during an afternoon press briefing that police had yet to determine a motive, but he said Mr. Roseberry was dealing with some personal matters, including health issues and the recent death of his mother.
Facebook removed a post from a bald White man in a goatee who described himself as the man in the truck. In the clip, he railed against President Biden and repeatedly said a bomb would go off if someone tried to shoot him.
The man in the clip said, “This revolution is on, bro.”
The black truck was parked on First Street, Northwest, by the Court of Neptune sculpture and fountain. People at the Capitol could get at least a partial view of the vehicle.
The chief said the D.C. police and fire departments, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms also responded.
The Library of Congress is located on Capitol Hill in a cluster of buildings that include the Capitol, House and Senate offices, and the Supreme Court. Police cordoned off a perimeter around the site of the truck.
Tension around the Capitol has been common this year. Thursday’s bomb scare comes eight months after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and about four months after a car rammed a barricade outside the Capitol, killing officer William “Billy” Evans.
Staffers in the Jefferson Building were told to evacuate Thursday while those in the Madison Building of the library were alerted to shelter in place. The Cannon House Office Building was also evacuated.
Congress is on recess this week, though many staffers report to the buildings.
The Capitol Police received assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office, the Washington Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Park Police, Supreme Court Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and D.C. Fire and EMS.
Investigators were still on the scene as the sun went down.
• Joseph Clark can be reached at jclark@washingtontimes.com.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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