Police arrest man in suspicious vehicle in front of Supreme Court

Oct. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. Capitol Police arrested a man in a suspicious vehicle outside the U.S. Supreme Court building following a standoff Tuesday morning.

The driver had pulled up to the building in an SUV about 9:30 a.m. When police arrived after being called about a suspicious vehicle, the man wouldn't speak to officers, Deputy Chief Jason Bell said during a news conference.

"The man refused to talk and made a statement to the effect of, 'the time for talking is done,'" Bell said.

Police closed streets in the area around First Street Northeast and Constitution Avenue and called in crisis negotiation officers to speak with the driver. Around 11 a.m., police approached the vehicle and arrested the man.

Police identified him as Dale Paul Melvin, 55, of Kimball, Mich.

Bell said police hadn't discovered why the man was at the building. No weapons had been found, but police were still processing the vehicle.

On Sept. 13, police arrested a man outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters. The man had knives, a bayonet, and a machete in his truck, which was outfitted with a reversed swastika and other terrorist symbols.

The Supreme Court began its new term on Monday. The U.S. Senate is also in session.