A Michigan woman apparently seeking to share information about last year’s insurrection at the Capitol was arrested Wednesday after authorities said they found two rifles and a shotgun in her vehicle parked near the Capitol building, according to police.
The woman was identified as Kery Lynn McAttee, 58, of Charlotte, Mich., southwest of Lansing. Police said they charged her with several criminal counts, including unlawful possession and transportation of a semiautomatic rifle.
Capitol Police said in a statement that the incident occurred about 1:40 p.m. Wednesday outside their headquarters on D Street NE, not far from the Hart Senate Office Building.
Police said the woman had parked a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado in a no-parking zone in front of the building and told officers she had driven to the District from Michigan. Police said she told officers that she “wanted to talk about information she had about Jan. 6, 2021.”
Authorities declined to reveal details of that conversation, but they said in the statement that there is no evidence the woman planned to do anything “except speak with our officers.”
During the conversation, police said an officer saw a gun case and the butt of a long gun in the vehicle.
Police said they seized an unloaded Remington Nylon .22-caliber rifle, an unloaded Connecticut Valley Arms .50-caliber rifle and a loaded Mossberg shotgun.
McAttee made a brief initial appearance Thursday in D.C. Superior Court, where she pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A prosecutor sought to have McAttee detained, arguing that her criminal record and the new charges indicate she poses a danger to the public. He said she was convicted of felony drug charges in Michigan in 1989 and 1991.
But Magistrate Judge Sean C. Staples released McAttee on her own recognizance, saying that her prior offenses were old and nonviolent and that she did not brandish any weapons or threaten violence at the Capitol. McAttee is due in court March 14 for further proceedings.
McAttee’s 33-year-old son, Gregory M. McAttee, said his mother has suffered from mental illness and thought people who attacked the Capitol had also been harassing her.
He said he did not know she had come to the District and had been arrested. Gregory McAttee said his mother hunted with the muzzle loader.
There was no mention of McAttee’s mental health during her court hearing
The woman was identified as Kery Lynn McAttee, 58, of Charlotte, Mich., southwest of Lansing. Police said they charged her with several criminal counts, including unlawful possession and transportation of a semiautomatic rifle.
Capitol Police said in a statement that the incident occurred about 1:40 p.m. Wednesday outside their headquarters on D Street NE, not far from the Hart Senate Office Building.
Police said the woman had parked a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado in a no-parking zone in front of the building and told officers she had driven to the District from Michigan. Police said she told officers that she “wanted to talk about information she had about Jan. 6, 2021.”
Authorities declined to reveal details of that conversation, but they said in the statement that there is no evidence the woman planned to do anything “except speak with our officers.”
During the conversation, police said an officer saw a gun case and the butt of a long gun in the vehicle.
Police said they seized an unloaded Remington Nylon .22-caliber rifle, an unloaded Connecticut Valley Arms .50-caliber rifle and a loaded Mossberg shotgun.
McAttee made a brief initial appearance Thursday in D.C. Superior Court, where she pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A prosecutor sought to have McAttee detained, arguing that her criminal record and the new charges indicate she poses a danger to the public. He said she was convicted of felony drug charges in Michigan in 1989 and 1991.
But Magistrate Judge Sean C. Staples released McAttee on her own recognizance, saying that her prior offenses were old and nonviolent and that she did not brandish any weapons or threaten violence at the Capitol. McAttee is due in court March 14 for further proceedings.
McAttee’s 33-year-old son, Gregory M. McAttee, said his mother has suffered from mental illness and thought people who attacked the Capitol had also been harassing her.
He said he did not know she had come to the District and had been arrested. Gregory McAttee said his mother hunted with the muzzle loader.
There was no mention of McAttee’s mental health during her court hearing
