San Diego Man Arrested Near Supreme Court With Guillotine in Truck
- A 35-year-old San Diego County man was arrested near the U.S.
- Le's older brother, Kelvin Le, a production planner living in Vista, recognized the black pickup truck in police photographs.
- The arrest took place after authorities located the pickup truck parked illegally along the 100 block of East Capitol Street.
A 35-year-old San Diego County man was arrested near the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington after authorities discovered a guillotine in the bed of his pickup truck, according to the U.S. Capitol Police. The suspect was identified by police as Philan-Tam-Duy Le of Julian, though his family refers to him as Philan Tam Le. Le was taken into custody on suspicion of carrying a dangerous weapon. Investigators are examining his background to determine his exact motivations for driving across the country from California to the nation’s capital.
Family Background and Political Discontent
Le’s older brother, Kelvin Le, a production planner living in Vista, recognized the black pickup truck in police photographs. Speaking by phone, Kelvin Le stated that his brother likely transported it to Washington as a symbolic gesture. “I don’t think he’d hurt anyone,” Kelvin Le said, describing the device as probably intended as a symbol of disapproval. According to his family, Le grew up in Carlsbad, briefly worked as a cook at a Vietnamese restaurant in Las Vegas, and spent several years living in Julian. Described as a free spirit, he funded his cross-country road trips by working as a tattoo artist and creating handmade earrings and piercings. Kelvin Le noted that his brother was generally unhappy with the state of politics, expressing a dislike for both major political parties as well as President Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom. However, his brother added that Philan Tam Le typically did not specify which particular government policies he opposed.
Vehicle Discovery Near the U.S. Capitol
The arrest took place after authorities located the pickup truck parked illegally along the 100 block of East Capitol Street. The location places the vehicle near the U.S. Supreme Court building, the Library of Congress, and the U.S. Capitol. Capitol Police department investigators are continuing to review the suspect’s background. No injuries or threats to the public were reported in connection with the incident.
