Attempt To Blow Up Vehicle At Pentagon Leads To Charges: Police

ALEXANDRIA, VA — An Arkansas man was due in court Tuesday afternoon to face charges accusing him of trying to blow up a vehicle Monday morning at the Pentagon, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of Virginia.

A Pentagon police officer on patrol reported seeing Matthew Dmitri Richardson, 19, of Fayetteville standing next to a vehicle in the Pentagon North Parking lot on Monday morning. The officer then reported seeing Richardson trying to use a cigarette lighter to ignite a piece of cloth sticking out of the vehicle's gas tank.

After the officer approached, Richardson said he was trying to blow up himself and the vehicle, the officer said. The officer tried to stop Richardson, who pulled away and fled across the parking lot toward Route 110 and onto Route 27, police said.

With the help of surveillance cameras, police said they determined that Richardson had leaped over the fence and into Arlington National Cemetery. The Pentagon Force Protection Agency Police Emergency Response Team arrested him near Arlington House.

When Richardson was searched, police found a cigarette lighter, gloves and court documents concerning Richardson's recent arrest on two counts of felony assault on a law enforcement officer in Arlington County, authorities said.

The vehicle Richardson tried to blow up is owned by a service member who does not know Richardson, authorities said.

Police charged Richardson with maliciously attempting to damage and destroy by means of fire a vehicle used in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years if convicted and a maximum of 20 years in prison.