http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/04/11/capitol.suitcases.ap/index.htmlWASHINGTON (AP) -- Police on Monday tackled and forcibly dragged away a man with two suitcases who had stationed himself in front of the west side of the U.S. Capitol.
The incident had forced police to evacuate that side of the Capitol in fear of a possible explosion.
Police, some armed with assault rifles, moved in slowly behind the man, who was dressed in black and faced the Capitol from a plaza below its west entrance. Crouching behind the wall, the police sprang up and ran at the man, who never moved.
He was tackled by two policemen, dragged to an ambulance and taken away. Police left the suitcases behind.
Some spectators applauded as police dragged the man away.
Before the standoff ended, Capitol police spokesman Michael Lauer said the man had not said anything to police.
Among the officials whose offices are on the west side of the Capitol looking out upon the National Mall are House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada.