Chaos at the Capitol: Intruder's Night of Destruction

An intruder breached the Washington state Capitol, shattering a glass door, igniting a rug and a flag, and toppling busts of George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr. before being apprehended by state troopers.

The individual, who has a history of mental health issues, was booked into Thurston County Jail on charges of first-degree burglary, first-degree arson, and first-degree malicious mischief, according to Washington State Patrol spokesperson Chris Loftis.

Loftis noted that while the man's actions at the Capitol were deliberate, they appear to be the result of a mental health crisis. The suspect, armed with two hammers, entered through a ground-floor window and moved through the building, damaging several items, including setting fire to a cherished original rug in the State Reception Room. Authorities have determined the act was not politically motivated.

(With inputs from agencies.)