Sword-toting gunman nabbed close to Capitol

A Secret Service agent provides security for U.S. President George W. Bush as he departs the South Lawn on board Marine One at the White House in Washington, January 18, 2008.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A man carrying a sword and a shotgun was arrested a block from the U.S. Capitol on Friday but there were no shots fired or injuries, police said.

Michael Steven Gorbey, a 38-year-old with a long criminal record, was arrested and is charged as a felon in possession of a firearm, police said. Other charges are pending.

Gorbey did not resist arrest after he was apprehended walking in the direction of the Capitol, police said.

"The officers were able to apprehend him quite easily," said U.S. Capitol Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider.

She said Gorbey's residence was unknown and that there were several different addresses associated with his name.

"He's got an extensive criminal record," Schneider said.

She did not provide details about where Gorbey might have been going or what he meant to do when he got there.

"He could have been headed anywhere," she said.

Police with dogs cordoned off several blocks as a bomb squad inspected Gorbey's pickup truck, parked just a block from Senate office buildings and three blocks from the Capitol.

Schneider said there were "items of concern" inside the truck. She declined to identify the items, which are still under investigation. Police removed the vehicle from the area.

(Reporting by Nancy Waitz, Richard Cowan and Kevin Drawbaugh; writing by Thomas Ferraro, editing by Todd Eastham)