Suspicious items found after arrest outside St. Matthew’s Cathedral
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A man was taken into custody early Sunday after police discovered suspicious materials inside a tent he set up on the steps of St. Matthew’s Cathedral, hours before the annual Red Mass.
The incident began around 6 a.m. when officers assigned to the church detail encountered the man, who had been previously barred from the property. Police said he refused to leave and was arrested without incident.
Key Points
- Man arrested outside St. Matthew’s Cathedral early Sunday
- Police found vials of liquid and possible fireworks inside his tent
- Scene secured, no ongoing threat to public safety
Suspicious items prompt investigation
Officers observed several questionable items inside the suspect’s tent, including vials of liquid and possible fireworks. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and Arson Task Force searched the belongings while securing the 1700 block of Rhode Island Avenue NW.
Authorities said there was no immediate danger to the public, though the area remained closed as investigators processed the scene.
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Charges and investigation
Police identified the suspect as 41-year-old Louis Geri of Vineland, New Jersey. He faces preliminary charges of Unlawful Entry, Threats to Kidnap or Injure a Person, and Possession of a Molotov Cocktail.
The case is under investigation with assistance from the Joint Terrorism Task Force, FBI Washington Field Office, and ATF.