Michigan man with body armor, ammunition, BB gun arrested at US Capitol
Authorities said Friday they arrested a Flint man near the U.S. Capitol after he was found with body armor, high capacity magazines and other ammunition — and a BB gun.
Jerome Felipe, 53, also had a fake badge that said "Department of the INTERPOL" on it, according to a news release from U.S. Capitol Police.
A police officer encountered Felipe, who is a retired New York City police officer, about 5 a.m. Friday after Felipe parked his vehicle near Peace Circle, on the west side of the Capitol.
Felipe presented the officer the fake badge and said he was a criminal investigator for that agency, the release said. He then gave U.S. Capitol Police permission to search his vehicle.
More: Michigan woman arrested with guns in truck outside US Capitol
They found a BB gun, two ballistic vests, several high capacity magazines and other ammunition in the car. "No real guns were found," the release said.
New York Police Department officials confirmed Felipe retired in 2018. The department said it is cooperating with U.S. Capitol Police in its investigation.
Felipe was charged with possession of high capacity magazines and unregistered ammunition. Investigators were still trying to determine why Felipe was parked near the Capitol.
Early this year, a 58-year-old Michigan woman was arrested outside the U.S. Capitol after parking her truck in a no-parking zone and police said they found weapons, including a loaded shotgun, in her vehicle. Police said she was there to tell them information she said she had about Jan. 6, 2021, the day of the attack on the Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
Journal News staff writer Asher Stockler contributed to this report.
Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @tsspangler. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan man arrested with fake badge, BB gun outside US Capitol
