WASHINGTON — Federal authorities arrested a California man near the United States Capitol this week after discovering a guillotine in the bed of his pickup truck, marking the latest in a troubling series of incidents involving individuals traveling across state lines with dangerous weapons.
U.S. Capitol Police took Philan-Tam-Duy Le, 35, of Julian, California, into custody Tuesday afternoon after officers noticed his vehicle illegally parked along the 100 block of East Capitol Street, within sight of both the Supreme Court and the Capitol building. The arrest occurred around 3 p.m. when officers conducting a routine parking enforcement check observed what appeared to be a life-sized guillotine in the truck bed.
“USCP investigators are going through the suspect’s background to learn more about why he came to Washington, D.C.,” Capitol Police said in an official statement. Photographs released by authorities show the imposing device, constructed to full scale, positioned upright in the black pickup truck.
The Secret Service has confirmed it is not involved in the investigation at this time. Capitol Police have stated they have not yet determined Le’s motive for bringing such a device to the nation’s capital.
A family member who spoke with news organizations identified the vehicle as belonging to Le. The suspect’s brother, Kelvin Le, described Philan-Tam-Duy Le as a free spirit who earned his living as a tattoo artist and piercing specialist while traveling throughout the country. According to Kelvin Le, the guillotine likely represented a “symbol of disapproval” and that his brother had expressed dissatisfaction with political figures across the spectrum, including both President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
This arrest arrives just days after another individual received a prison sentence for plotting violence against a high-ranking government official. Last week, 25-year-old Ryan Michael English of South Deerfield, Massachusetts, received a sentence of 73 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release for conspiring to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to the Justice Department.
The pattern of individuals traveling significant distances with weapons has become an increasing concern for law enforcement. Nicholas Roske traveled from California to the Washington area in an attempt to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. According to prosecutors, Roske sought to prevent the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
In October of last year, authorities arrested a man outside St. Matthew the Apostle church in Washington during a Mass honoring the Supreme Court. That suspect possessed hundreds of explosive devices and carried a manifesto revealing, according to court documents, significant animosity toward the Catholic Church, members of the Jewish faith, and members of the Supreme Court.
These incidents raise serious questions about security protocols for government officials and the challenges facing law enforcement in an era when individuals can cross state lines with relative ease while harboring dangerous intentions. Capitol Police continue their investigation into Le’s background and motivations, working to determine whether the guillotine represented merely symbolic protest or something more sinister.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not indicated whether additional charges may be forthcoming.
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