U.S. Capitol Police make arrest in connection with Molotov cocktail thrown at officers

U.S. Capitol Police has announced an arrest in connection with a Molotov cocktail allegedly being thrown at officers Wednesday in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, in Washington, D.C.

The person arrested has been identified as Bernard L. McCutcheon, 26, of D.C.

McCutcheon is charged with two counts of assault on a police officer, one count of possession of a Molotov cocktail and one count of assault with a deadly weapon, according to local news outlet WTOP.com.

The incident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. when patrol officers received a report that someone on Massachusetts Avenue NW, just west of North Capitol Street, had an incendiary device.

McCutcheon threw one of the handmade devices at the officers while trying to light it, according to Capitol Police. He dropped the second device – made with a tequila bottle stuffed with a sock and a liquid accelerant – while attempting to flee the scene, near the Union Station transit hub at the base of Capitol Hill.

Two officers were treated for minor injuries, said acting Assistant Chief of Police for Uniformed Operations Sean Gallagher.

Police say that during the arrest officers also found a backpack that had two other bottles of liquid at the scene.

There is no indication the man was targeting the U.S. Capitol or members of Congress, WTOP also reports.