Police: Heavily Armed Suspect Stopped Before He Got To Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- A suspicious witness may have headed off a real tragedy on Capitol Hill. Police sources tell 9NEWS NOW Michael Gorbey approached her near Union Station and asked for directions to the Supreme Court. He said he had a two o'clock appointment with Chief Justice John Roberts. The woman thought the man was acting so strangely, she called police and asked them to check him out.

When police spotted Michael Gorbey, they say he was openly carrying a shotgun loaded with at least three rounds. Two officers ordered him to stop, wrestled him to the ground, and found far more than just the shotgun. They say he was wearing a military style bullet resistant jacket, had a samurai sword strapped behind his back, a tactical bow and arrow in a backpack, possible black powder, and many more rounds for the shotgun. Inside his truck, more trouble. Something that looked like an improvised explosive device with wires in the back, some crossbows, and more wires and possible black powder sprouting from the glove compartment. Police officers closed down the area for blocks around the Capitol and Union Station and sent in a robot to disrupt the device.

After it was rendered safe, police sources say they went through the truck and found no actual explosives.

Some police officers thought Gorbey might have been headed to the Capitol, because they have been on the lookout for a man who had threatened to kill hundreds of Capitol Police officers. But at this point, it looks like he was headed to the Supreme Court.

Police say Gorbey, 38, was arrested and is being charged with "Felon in Possession of a Firearm," and other charges are pending.

Gorbey's last known address is in Beaverdam, Virginia, which is between Spotsylvania and Richmond. But he's lived in a lot of places and had a number of aliases. Sources say he has a long record of arrest for thefts and for drugs. But nothing like terrorism.

A Supreme Court spokeswoman referred questions to Capitol Police, but says the high court has its own police force, and that Justices can have their own security details.