By Megan Lebowitz -
NBC News
The United States Capitol Police reported this Friday that they had arrested a man who tried to enter the building with a hammer.
The tool was discovered this Friday when
Christopher Snow, 33
, was going through security screening at the Capitol Visitor Center (USCP), the Capitol Police said.
Capitol Police patrol the plaza on the east side of the Capitol building on March 7, 2024. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
An agent discovered the hammer inside the man's backpack as he was passing through an press.
During a “struggle,” officers “
deployed a Taser
to
arrest the man and take him into custody,” the statement said
.
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“These officers put their training into practice and prevented this man from entering the United States Capitol,” USCP Capt. Andrew Pecher said in the news release.
“The officer who spotted the hammer did a great job, like those who quickly took the suspect into custody.”
The incident took place around 3:40 pm (Eastern Time).
The hammer that a man tried to enter the Capitol on March 8, 2024.Capitol Police
Snow, who is from Canton, Ohio
, is charged with assault on a police officer, according to the USCP.
The Senate is currently in session.
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The USCP has made a dozen arrests so far this month on charges including driving under the influence, theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle, according to public arrest reports.