Washington: Police have arrested a man with a handgun and 500 rounds of ammunition at a checkpoint in Washington set up ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Wesley Allen Beeler was stopped at the checkpoint near the US Capitol on Friday.

Court documents say Beeler approached the checkpoint but did not have a valid credential for that area. An officer noticed he had “firearms-related stickers” on his vehicle and asked him if he had any weapons inside.

Members of the National Guard walk past a security perimeter outside the US Capitol as preparations are made ahead of the presidential inauguration in Washington.Credit:Bloomberg

The New York Times reported that the "unauthorised" inauguration credential Beelar had flashed at authorities was not fake.

The papers say Beeler told the officers he had a handgun under the armrest and police detained him at the scene. They searched his car and found a high-capacity magazine in the 9mm handgun, along with more than 500 rounds of ammunition in the vehicle. Authorities said he didn’t have a license to carry the gun in Washington.

Beeler was charged with carrying a pistol without a license. His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reports say the man was working as private security, and had told his family he was helping to secure central Washington.

AP

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