On the normally serene steps of Saint Matthew's Cathedral, the peace of an early Sunday morning was disturbed when Metropolitan Police Department officers took into custody a man who had set up a tent on the premises. According to an MPD statement, the individual, later identified as 41-year-old Louis Geri from Vineland, New Jersey, was found at the location prior to the Red Mass, an annual event drawing people of the law and high-profile politicians.
During the arrest, made shortly before 6:00 a.m. yesterday, officers noted Geri had been previously barred from the Cathedral's steps which he set a tent up on. He refused to leave upon being confronted, leading to his arrest without further incident. Inside the tent, the situation took a darker turn, with officers discovering "multiple suspicious items, including vials of liquid and possible fireworks," as per the MPD statement.
Experts from MPD's Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team and the Arson Task Force were quickly on the scene to secure and search the suspect's belongings. The area around the Cathedral, including the front entrance and the 1700 block of Rhode Island Avenue, Northwest, was closed while the team worked. Geri faces several charges, including "Unlawful Entry, Threats to Kidnap or Injure a Person, and Possession of a Molotov Cocktail," while a collaborative investigation is underway involving the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the FBI's Washington Field Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as reported by the MPD.
Though there's no immediate known threat to the community, the incident remains a stark reminder to keep vigilant. MPD urges the public to "See Something, Say Something," and report any suspicious activities by calling 911 or 202-727-9099, or visiting the iwatchdc.org website.
