Police investigate threat at state Capitol ahead of Gov. Walker's address

MADISON (WITI) -- On Tuesday, January 15th, officials cordoned off a section of the Capitol grounds to investigate a potential threat, and took a man into custody.

Capitol Police received information about a possible threat at the Capitol when an individual named Kvon Smith stated on his Facebook page he was going to come to the Capitol to do harm. However, this threat was not made against anyone in particular. 

During the course of investigating the threat, Capitol Police brought in additional police resources and Smith's photo was circulated in order to identify him if he came close to the Capitol. 

Capitol Police and Wisconsin State Patrol officers were posted at all the Capitol entrances, and Capitol Police officers immediately identified Smith when he entered the Capitol.  

Smith was apprehended in the rotunda, and he stated that he had a Molotov cocktail in his backpack.  The backpack was taken outside to Wisconsin Avenue, and the City of Madison Fire Department and the Dane County bomb squad were called to further investigate the contents of the backpack. 

The Capitol police asked staff in offices facing Wisconsin Avenue to evacuate as a precaution as the contents of the backpack are identified. Smith is in custody and charges are pending.

FOX6 News visited Smith's Milwaukee home for comment, but no one was home. 

Mikaela Hitt lives on the same floor as the man listed as a freshman at UW-Milwaukee. 

"I've heard of him before, and I've seen him around campus and around the apartment. It's just surprising. He doesn't seem like a person who would do that," Hitt said.

Neighbor Robert Biersach says he saw Smith start a fire outside their apartment complex. On January 11th, a post on Smith's Facebook page notes: "I was burning phone books and newspapers. I'm a pyro -- well, more of a Renaissance Man." 

In a statement, a Department of Administration official said increased security in advance of the state-of-the-state address is consistent with protocol in previous years.