A man allegedly involved in an armed robbery in Prince George’s County, Md., picked the wrong night to lead police on a car chase to Capitol Hill.  

About 20 minutes into President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, reports came in over Capitol Police radios of an armed robbery suspect driving erratically toward the Capitol. The driver was trailed by police cars from two Maryland jurisdictions on streets north of the Hill.  

Over the course of a few minutes, the driver took a few sharp turns, winding through streets east of the Capitol, before coming to a stop near the Rayburn House Office Building, according to sources near the scene of the arrest.  

By 9:50 p.m., at least eight patrol cars were on the scene, including one cruiser from Prince George’s County and another car from District Heights, Md. Officers handcuffed a black male, who was standing in the median on Washington Avenue Southwest.  

Staff and members were alerted to “ongoing Police activity at Washington Avenue and Delaware Avenue, SW,”  in an email from Capitol law enforcement authorities that was obtained by CQ Roll Call.

“The U.S. Capitol Police and the House Sergeant at Arms are aware of and are monitoring the situation. Details will be provided as they become available and as the situation warrants,” the alert stated. Staff were told to stay clear of the area “until further notice.”

Capitol Police spokesman Shennell Antrobus confirmed that police pursued the suspect, following reports of an armed robbery, and said the arrest was being handled by local police. A spokeswoman for Prince George’s County police said CQ Roll Call would need to contact the District Heights police department. No public information officer was immediately available.  

Jennifer Scholtes contributed to this report.  The 114th: CQ Roll Call’s Guide to the New Congress Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call in your inbox or on your iPhone.