Bryan Moles. (Facebook)
Bryan Moles, a Pennsylvania veteran who has worked as a physician, is accused of keeping guns and ammo in his car outside the Trump International Hotel, where he was staying in Washington D.C.
A police report said that Moles has been placed under arrest after the cache of weapons was discovered on May 31.
It’s not clear why Moles had the weaponry or why he was staying at the Trump property. The D.C. police chief said in a news conference that police and a tipster may have averted a potential “disaster.” However, the Secret Service said it had determined that Moles “posed no immediate threat to any Secret Service protectees.” You can read the police report below.
“The best way to prevent a disaster is when you see something, say something,” the police chief, Peter Newsham, said. However, in a statement, the Secret Service said, “At no time were any Secret Service protectees at risk.” You can watch the news conference here.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Officers Saw a Firearm in Plain View in Moles’ Car, a Report Alleges & Moles Recently Posted About the Trump Hotel
The police report is pretty brief, but it does describe what police allegedly found in Moles’ car.
“On the listed date…members of the First District received information that S-1 would have possession of the listed firearms,” the report says. “While on scene officers observed the listed firearm in plain view in S-1’s vehicle with a secondary firearm located S-1’s glove box. S-1 was placed under arrest and charged with Carrying a Pistol without a License CPWL and transported to the First District for processing.”
The report lists a Glock, Carbin 15 Bushmaster, ammo, and .223. ABC7 reported that one weapon found was an assault rifle, and Moles allegedly had 90 rounds of ammo.
In the news conference, the chief said that Moles was arrested without incident or use of force. “We will do a thorough investigation if we can get to the motive as to why this guy was coming to the District of Columbia… I was very concerned by this circumstance,” Newsham said.
Authorities said that Moles’ car was located in the Trump hotel’s parking garage. The MPD explosives unit was called to the scene but found no hazardous materials.
On Facebook, Moles had recently posted about the Trump hotel, although the comment was cryptic.
Moles asked in the post whether people preferred the Trump Hotel or the Hilton and referred to Trump as Darth Vader and the boss.
2. Moles Reportedly Is a Military Veteran Who Likes Trump & Who Trains K9s
Bryan Moles. (Facebook)
Early reports are that Moles is a Trump supporter. He did post some anti-Hillary Clinton memes on his Facebook page, although his posts about Trump are more cryptic. Moles also used the name Jake Steed on social media.
Moles did make a post with a gun, although many of his posts involve innocuous things like cooking.
(Facebook)
He also posted this:
And this:
(Facebook)
According to ABC 7, “Moles reportedly told police he is a military veteran and suffers from PTSD and that he stayed at the hotel because he likes President Trump. It’s unclear if he posed any threat.”
Moles did post a link to a GoFundMe page for a fundraiser for a K-9 service that says, “Finest Bloodlines, Built to Work. Veteran Owned and Operated. 100% Non-Profit. All Dogs go to Vets and First Responders and others with PTSD. Extensive Screening Required.”
The police chief would not confirm the report about Moles liking Trump, though. When asked to explain why the Secret Service is saying that there is no immediate threat to protectees but the chief thinks a disaster may have been averted, Newsham said it was a “peculiar circumstance” and stressed that Moles allegedly traveled to D.C. with weapons without a good reason to be in the city.
However, the chief said that authorities don’t have enough evidence to charge Moles with making threats. “I believe our officers and the tipster coming forward averted a potential disaster,” Newsham alleged all the same.
The chief said that Moles was sharing information with authorities, although Newsham was not specific.
On Facebook, Moles wrote that he is lead Trainer and Therapist at Boro K9 and Service, an FMF Corpsman at Camp Lejeune, and said that he studied Biochemistry at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He said he is married and from Brooklyn, New York.
3. Moles Was a Doctor in Pennsylvania & Police in That State Received a Tip That He Was Headed to D.C.
Bryan Moles. (Facebook)
Moles hails from a town in Pennsylvania called Edinboro. He is 43-years-old, according to police. Edinboro is a small college town of just over 6,000 people near Erie. According to The Associated Press, “Moles is a physician who practices emergency medicine at a hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania.”
Moles’ LinkedIn page says he was an “ER doc” for 11 years.
However, the hospital spokesperson told Heavy in a statement: “Dr. Moles has not worked for our system since 2013. We have no comment on this matter.”
Moles was arrested inside the hotel just after midnight on May 31, The Washington Times reported.
The Trump hotel has been the scene of previous protests. This photo is from April outside the hotel. (Getty)
The original tip was made to Pennsylvania State Police, who alerted the D.C. police and Secret Service that Moles was headed to D.C. with weapons, according to Newsham. He said that Pennsylvania State police reacted very quickly and provided the suspect’s name and a description of his vehicle.
4. The Trump Hotel Released a Statement That Accused Moles of Acting ‘Suspiciously’
Bryan Moles. (Facebook)
Although it’s still not clear what threat, if any, Moles allegedly posed, the Trump hotel was taking no chances.
“We take the safety and security of guests very seriously. It is our first priority,” the statement read. “This morning, the authorities arrested a guest who was behaving suspiciously. The matter is under investigation therefore it would be inappropriate for us to provide additional details. Please refer your inquiry to the investigating authorities.”
The D.C. mayor called it a “disturbing incident that occurred in the nation’s capital last night but was resolved” quickly and peacefully.
There was a report of a firearm “inside a vehicle of a hotel guest,” she said in the May 31 news conference. The mayor said the Secret Service helped coordinate with police. The mayor said authorities take it seriously when “anyone threatens harm in our city,” although she stopped short of saying that Moles had done so.
The Secret Service said the investigation was ongoing.
5. Trump’s Security Has Been a Concern
Trump is surrounded by security everywhere he goes. (Getty)
Protecting any president is a tall order. However, the tense climate surrounding Trump’s persona has compounded concerns. Already during Trump’s short presidency, a series of people have jumped or tried to jump the White House fence.
On May 30, comedienne Kathy Griffin apologized for posting what she claimed was a joke that showed her holding a mask of Trump’s severed head. The Griffin post has met with great outrage.
This post will be updated as more is learned about Moles.