Olson told police he packed up his “political thesis,” a flare gun, flares, two notebooks, and his backpack and began driving to Washington, D.C. on Nov. 4, 2024. He stopped at a gas station in Westland to fill his car fuel tank, as well as the water bottle and glass liquor bottle with gasoline.

U.S. Capitol Police on Tuesday arrested a man at the visitors center who smelled like fuel and was carrying a torch and a flare gun, police said in a statement.