Police arrest man carrying a rifle outside Oregon courthouse

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) _ Police arrested a man found carrying a concealed rifle near the courthouse where the Oregon standoff trial is being held.

Portland police Sgt. Pete Simpson says Department of Homeland Security officers saw the man carrying a sign near the federal courthouse as well as an item wrapped in a towel.

The towel slipped when officers approached, revealing a rifle found to be unloaded.

The 27-year-old suspect, Matthew Thomas Mglej, was booked into jail Thursday night on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. Simpson says DHS officers also cited him for a federal firearms violation.

Police arrested the man outside the same courthouse two years ago after he was found playing a violin while naked during a protest. A charge of indecent exposure was later dismissed.