Updated: Suspicious Package Near Pentagon, Person in Custody Identified

Update, 12:51 p.m.: Patch spoke with an 11-year-old boy named Dagnachew who lives on William Edgar Drive, the street that has been the main focus of law enforcement attention in Franconia.

The boy said Meluku, the suspect connected to the suspicious Pentagon package, lived with Meluku's father on the street. The boy did not know Meluku, but described his father as quiet and friendly.

"We don't really know him," the boy said. He added that the father was behind the FBI perimeter on Schurtz St, being interviewed by authorities.

Update 11:47 a.m. Andrew Ames, spokesperson for the FBI Washington Field Office, just spoke with reporters at Franconia.

Ames said there is no public safety hazard posed by the townhouse being searched. When the FBI initially entered the house, they began searching it to see whether there was a public safety concern. They've since determined there isn't and the search has been postponed. Agents are currently waiting for a search warrant.

"There is no public safety hazard," Ames said. Members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, FCPD and the National Capital Response squad are on the scene, Ames said.

No homes nearby have been evacuated. Ames would not say whether the townhouse was occupied by alleged suspect Yonathan Meluku, but said the townhouse and the Pentagon case are "connected."

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Updated 11:15 a.m.: All roads around the Pentagon have reopened.

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Updated 11:05 a.m.: The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Secret Service are currently searching a home on William Edgar Drive in  Franconia. No official word if it is connected to the suspicious package arrest. .

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Updated 10:40 a.m.: A spokesperson with the Alexandria Police Department said they would not comment on Yonathan Melaku until after speaking with the Arlington Police Department.

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Updated 10:15 a.m.: reported on May 27 that Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, was arrested and charged with four counts of Grand Larceny after rash of vehicle tamperings. It is unclear at this time whether this is the same person currently in police custody for the Pentagon incident.

Route 110 between Rosslyn and Crystal City has re-opened, while Washington Blvd. remains closed.

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Updated 10:05 a.m.: ABC News is reporting that the suspicious man taken into custody in connection with the suspicious package outside of the Pentagon is Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria. 

The package was determined to be non-explosive. 

To read the ABC News report, click here.

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Original

The Washington Post is reporting that a "suspicious man" was taken into custody last night after he was found in Arlington Cemetary overnight. According to ABC News, the person in custody is Yonathan Melaku of Alexandria.

According to the Washington Post: 

"Roads around the Pentagon were shut down this morning after authorities took a “suspicious man” into custody overnight in Arlington Cemetery, said Sgt. David Schlosser, a spokesman for the U.S. Park Police.

The man was found in the cemetery after it closed and Schlosser said authorities decided it was “important” to locate his vehicle following an interview with him. Arlington County police found the car off of Washington Boulevard near the Pentagon early this morning, Schlosser said.

NBC News reported earlier a suspicious device had been found in the car, but Schlosser would not confirm that an explosive or other type of device had been found. An Arlington County bomb disposal unit is currently looking at the car, Schlosser said."

To read the Washington Post's full report, click here.