Editor’s note: This story’s headline has been changed to reflect the type of weapon found in Bryan Moles’ vehicle.
WASHINGTON — A 43-year-old Pennsylvania man with two guns, including an assault weapon, in his vehicle was arrested early Wednesday morning after checking into the Trump International Hotel several blocks from the White House.
D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said a tip from a concerned citizen in Pennsylvania led to the arrest, which he said at a morning news conference averted a “potential disaster.”
A tipster alerted Pennsylvania State Police that Bryan Moles, of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, was traveling to D.C. and possibly to the Trump hotel armed with weapons. Newsham said.
Pennsylvania authorities alerted D.C. police and the Secret Service about 12:30 a.m. Moles checked into the hotel without incident at about 1 a.m., Newsham said.
When police searched his vehicle in the hotel parking garage, they discovered a Bushmaster AR-15 assault weapon and a Glock handgun, as well as 90 rounds of ammunition.
Moles was arrested inside his hotel room, and has been charged with one count of carrying a dangerous weapons, one count of carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business, as well as having unregistered ammunition.
Moles has answered questions from local authorities and the Secret Service, Newsham said.
Secret Service Deputy Special Agent Mike Ball said agents have determined that Moles “posed no immediate threat to any Secret Service protectees.”
The Secret Service investigation is still new and ongoing, Ball said.
Newsham said police are still trying to determine why Moles traveled to D.C.
“We’re going to do a thorough examination if we can get to the motive as to why this guy was coming to the District of Columbia armed with these weapons, Newsham said. “I was very concerned about this … very peculiar circumstance, and I believe that the officers and our federal partners and in particular the tipster coming forward averted a potential disaster in our nation’s capital.”
Newsham said police do not have enough information at this time to charge Moles with making threats.
