Civilians stopped armed Capitol intruder

[stu]

By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer

Fri Sep 22, 5:21 PM ET

 

 

 

WASHINGTON - Civilian employees rather than police stopped an armed intruder at the U.S. Capitol, authorities acknowledged Friday, adding new details to an already embarrassing security breach.

 

Carlos Greene, 20, accused of carrying a loaded handgun and crack cocaine, assaulted one civilian employee and struggled with another before a third got him in a bear hug, seconds before officers caught up with him Monday morning, police said.

 

"It was the civilians who did have him corralled or subdued," said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, a Capitol police spokeswoman. "We were hot on his trail. We just didn't get there in time."

 

On Monday, following the arrest, acting Capitol Police Chief Christopher McGaffin said his officers subdued Greene outside a basement office that distributes flags to lawmakers.

 

At a detention hearing Friday in federal court, Caw

 

pitol Police Detective Nettie Watts said Greene eluded two officers in his car, ran past a third officer on the Capitol grounds and slipped through an unguarded door into the Rotunda.

 

"At different locations, officers gave chase. They would lose him and another officer would spot him, but at a distance," Watts said.

 

U.S. Magistrate John Facciola ordered Greene held without bond on a charge of illegally possessing a firearm.

 

In an interview before Greene's court appearance, Schneider called the security breach unacceptable and said police are reviewing procedures to ensure it can't happen again. Lawmakers also have said they want to review the incident and find out what went wrong.

 

Schneider praised the "valiant efforts" of the civilians but said police still recommend that people call them rather than getting involved in security threats.