On Thursday, a man was arrested outside the Pentagon after attempting to flee from Pentagon police officers while carrying a loaded firearm and a device that could modify the weapon into a fully automatic firearm, according to the arrest affidavit.
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Kaleel Nagbe was initially stopped for a simple traffic infraction, allegedly driving while using a cell phone, which is illegal in Virginia. Prosecutors claim that when the Pentagon police officer approached the black Mercedes, he detected the smell of marijuana and instructed Nagbe to exit the car to conduct a search. Prosecutors say Nagbe became “became nervous and fidgety,” while being questioned outside of the vehicle. Nagbe allegedly jumped back into the vehicle and tried to drive off, with multiple officers clinging to his car as he attempted to flee.
At the time of his arrest, Nagbe had a loaded green-brown Glock 26 with 16 rounds, including one in the chamber. Prosecutors also say Nagbe had the firearm, fitted with a Glock switch, hidden in his underwear. The device attaches to the back of a Glock’s slide and interferes with the internal trigger mechanisms. This modification allows the semi-automatic handgun to fire continuously, effectively converting it into a fully automatic weapon, according to authorities.
Nagbe gave conflicting stories about the gun. First, he claimed he found it in the glove box and took it out to “avoid any issues.” Later, he said he found it in the center console and hid it in his underwear to keep his father, who owned the vehicle, out of trouble.
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While there is no indication that Nagbe was planning to use the firearm at the Pentagon, prosecutors noted that Nagbe injured one officer during the physical altercation that occurred during his arrest. The officer was treated for a hand injury at a nearby hospital.
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In the trunk of the vehicle, officers found two white trash bags and one all-white Nike backpack full of marijuana, totaling just over 14 pounds, according to court records.
Following his arrest, a magistrate judge initially granted Nagbe release on a personal recognizance bond. However, the federal government challenged the decision, arguing that Nagbe should remain in custody due to his criminal history and the severity of the charges.
Nagbe was convicted of possession of a firearm in Montgomery County, Maryland, in April 2023. He was sentenced to five years in prison, with all but 367 days suspended, and placed on five years of probation.
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In a motion for revocation, prosecutors wrote:
The defendant presents a substantial risk of flight and a danger to the community. Indeed, each of the statutorily prescribed factors that guide a court’s detention determination weigh against pretrial release. Accordingly, the defendant should be detained.
