Michigan man arrested outside U.S. Capitol with BB gun, body armor, high capacity magazines

A Michigan man was arrested Friday outside the U.S. Capitol after being found with a fake badge, body armor, a BB gun and high capacity magazines.

Police identified the man as retired New York police officer Jerome Felipe, 53, of Flint, Michigan, according to a U.S. Capitol Police release.

Felipe was parked on the west side of the Capitol around 5 a.m. when approached by a Capitol Police officer, police said. He showed the officers a fake badge that read “Department of the INTERPOL” and identified himself as a criminal investigator with the agency.

Police said they found a BB gun, two ballistic vests, “several” high capacity magazines and additional ammunition in Felipe’s car after he gave permission to search the vehicle. “No real guns were found,” the release said.

Felipe was charged with unlawful possession of high capacity magazines and unregistered ammunition, according to the release. Investigators are looking into why he was parked near the Capitol.

New York Police Department officials confirmed Felipe retired in 2018. The department said it is cooperating with U.S. Capitol Police in its investigation.

Early this year, a 58-year-old Michigan woman was arrested outside the U.S. Capitol after parking her truck in a no-parking zone and police said they found weapons, including a loaded shotgun, in her vehicle. Police said she was there to tell them information she said she had about Jan. 6, 2021, the day of the attack on the Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.