Police arrest man over theft of phones outside secure facility in Capitol

WASHINGTON — Police last month arrested a man who broke away from a public tour of the Capitol and is alleged to have stolen six phones, a smartwatch and earphones in the building, authorities said Thursday.

After he broke away from his tour group, David Octavius Daffin, 36, walked to a secure facility in the Capitol and stole the items, which had been left in open storage without locks outside the facility, U.S. Capitol Police alleged.

Police said they arrested Daffin less than 45 minutes later, when he “tried to flee in a vehicle.” The stolen items were returned, and lock boxes have been added in the hall since the theft, police said.

Police said they have found no evidence to suggest that Daffin was involved in a larger plot; rather, they said they believe he stumbled upon the belongings.

“Thankfully our Rapid Response Team (officers on bicycles) and officers with our Special Operations Division arrested Daffin before he could get away and quickly returned the staff’s items,” Capitol Police said in a statement.

Daffin could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

The incident, which took place June 17, led to just one of Daffin’s arrests on Capitol grounds. On June 12, he illegally entered a congressional employee’s vehicle and was arrested, police said.

Daffin was released from jail after the phone theft but returned to the Capitol on Saturday, when he was arrested for returning to Capitol grounds. As part of his conditions of release from jail, Daffin was prohibited from returning to the Capitol, police said.

In a crime summary of an incident that aligns with the description of the arrest Saturday, police described a person approaching an officer at the Senate door of the Capitol.

“The suspect stated that they were aware of the stay away order and were not supposed to be on Capitol grounds,” the crime summary said.

Daffin is in jail facing charges of theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property.

“Our officers are working around the clock to stop criminals who keep returning to the streets as we patrol 570 acres and millions of square feet — much of which is not only open to the public, but also packed each day with employees, tourists, people trying to illegally protest, and visitors,” Capitol Police said in Thursday’s statement.