Federal prosecutors have charged a 70 year old Alabama man named Lonnie after police say they found eleven Molotov cocktails in his truck near the Capitol during Wednesday’s riot, according to the Justice Department.
Lonnie was arrested on Friday. Capitol Police said they responded to a report of a possible explosive near the Republican National Committee building around 12:47 p.m. on Wednesday, then received a second report of a possible device near the Democratic National Committee headquarters a few blocks away. The bomb squad checked both locations, set up a perimeter and brought in bomb sniffing dogs to sweep vehicles in the area.
According to the charging documents, officers spotted the handle of a firearm inside a parked red GMC Sierra pickup with Alabama plates. A search of the truck turned up more guns, along with 11 mason jars filled with a liquid, each with a golf tee in the top, plus cloth rags and lighters. Investigators say those are the makings of Molotov cocktails. Prosecutors say Lonnie told investigators the jars held a mix of melted Styrofoam and gasoline.
Lonnie is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a destructive device, which carries up to 10 years in prison, and one count of carrying a pistol without a license under D.C. law, which carries up to 5 years. A charge is an accusation, and the case is now in the hands of the court.
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