WASHINGTON — A woman was arrested after reportedly striking a Capitol Police cruiser outside of the Rayburn House office building today, with police saying her car also nearly struck some officers who were able to jump out of the way.
Capitol Police spokeswoman Eva Malecki said the “erratic and aggressive driver” was being pursued by officers just before 10 a.m. when she tried to flee, began driving the wrong way in traffic and hit the cop car at First Street and Independence Avenue SE.
Police fired shots at the woman’s car, shattering the glass of the rear and passenger windows; Malecki would not say how many shots were fired or give any other details on the shooting. There were no injuries and the woman was taken into custody.
The FBI was on scene, reported the local ABC affiliate, though Malecki told reporters the incident appeared to be “criminal in nature with no nexus to terrorism.”
Streets near the Capitol were blocked off after the arrest, but the Capitol itself remained open. Lawmakers and staff were advised to steer clear of the area.
In 2013, Miriam Carey, 34, a dental hygienist from Stamford, Conn., who reportedly suffered from postpartum depression, was stopped at a White House barricade before leading police on a chase in her black Infiniti toward the Capitol. Gunshots were fired by law enforcement on the car at two separate locations, the second resulting in Carey’s death. An 18-month-old girl was pulled from the car unharmed. Her family has since sued Capitol Police and the Secret Service for wrongful death.
Today’s incident prompted a bevy of thank-you tweets from lawmakers.
Grateful today and every day for the work our police do to enforce our laws and keep us safe. Thank you @CapitolPolice.
— Rep. Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) March 29, 2017
Thank you to the @CapitolPolice for all y’all do to protect those in and around the @uscapitol!
— Louie Gohmert (@replouiegohmert) March 29, 2017
Today is yet another reminder of everything law enforcement does to keep us safe. My thanks to the @CapitolPolice
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) March 29, 2017
The @CapitolPolice do heroic work keeping our visitors & staff in DC safe. We thank them today & every day.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 29, 2017
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