This scenario stinks of politics.
After 33 years of policing in DC I have a pretty good understanding of how this process works.
Getting a warrant for a misdemeanor, the destruction of property, is fairly straightforward, and it will be a non extraditable warrant, meaning that it is only valid in DC, not surrounding jurisdictions. Such a crime is prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office for DC; in other words, the US DOJ is well aware of the statement of facts. The firearms charge, a large magazine, is also prosecuted by the USAO-DC. Both cases will be heard in DC Superior Court. The warrant was signed by a DC Superior Court judge.
Two things interest me.
Allegedly, the defendant was arrested on a traffic stop as he entered DC, apparently with the officers knowing who he was and that he had an open warrant. For the police to be able to spot this guy as he enters DC, rather than just stumbling across him, indicates that he was being tracked.... perhaps something popped up through his airline reservations. I find it chilling that the police will go to such lengths to track and arrest a person for a minor offense, an offense so minor that the arrest must happen in DC. Regardless of one's opinion about this guy, he was clearly on his way to a 1st Amendment activity, albeit one not popular with many in DC. That is an awful abuse.
Regarding the large capacity magazines..... These are illegal in DC, even if not in proximity to a firearm or even unloaded. This metal or plastic box with a spring in it is that dangerous! These are so dangerous by themselves that NBC Newsreader David Gregory used one as a prop in December 2012 for a piece attacking the NRA! The courts declined to pursue charges for this similar crime.
This situation stinks.
