A man has been taken into custody after approaching the gate of the CIA Headquarters and making alarming statements, according to a law enforcement source. The incident occurred on Tuesday when the individual, later identified as Eric Sandow, 32, from Gainesville, Florida, allegedly declared, "I'm here and I have a gun." Uniformed federal officers denied him access and promptly alerted the Fairfax County police in Virginia, providing them with a description of the suspect.
Subsequently, Sandow was arrested and charged with felony possession of a firearm on school property. His apprehension took place at Dolley Madison Preschool in McLean, Virginia, after he trespassed onto the school premises around 11 a.m. that same day. Sandow claimed that he was en route to the CIA and revealed that he had an AK-47 and another weapon stored in his vehicle.
Dolley Madison Preschool, situated less than 1.5 miles from the CIA Headquarters and in close proximity to significant Washington, D.C. landmarks, promptly addressed the situation. In a statement, the preschool clarified that Sandow had requested access to their facilities for restroom use, but his request was denied by school staff. Importantly, he did not gain physical entry into the school building at any point.
Law enforcement authorities from Fairfax County were summoned to the scene. During their interaction with Sandow, he confessed to possessing firearms inside his car, which was located on school property, according to the police department's statement. Upon conducting a search, officers discovered two weapons—an AK-47 and a pistol—as well as magazines and ammunition. Sandow appeared before the Fairfax County General District Court for arraignment on Wednesday morning and is presently being held without bond.
At present, it remains unclear whether Sandow has legal representation. Public records do not indicate an extensive criminal history, with only a misdemeanor domestic battery charge in 2014. Furthermore, his voter registration did not specify a political party affiliation.
Authorities commended the vigilance of an individual who promptly alerted them to the presence of the armed man near the day care facility. They expressed gratitude to the community member for taking appropriate action and urged the public to report any suspicious activity, emphasizing the potential impact such calls can have in preventing unforeseen incidents.
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