A man was arrested on Wednesday after it was discovered there was a handgun in his vehicle parked near the U.S. Capitol, authorities said.

Dennis Westover, 71, of South Charleston, W.Va., was arrested on Wednesday, according to a representative for D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department.

According to a press release from Capitol Police, he was seen parking at the intersection of Second Street and Washington Avenue SW, less than half a mile from the Capitol.

“The Suspect had exited the vehicle and walked north in the roadway of the 100 block of Washington Avenue, SW,” said the statement.

A Capitol Police officer then approached Westover, asking if there was a gun inside his vehicle to which he confirmed that there was a pistol in the center console of his vehicle.

He was placed under arrest and taken to Capitol Police headquarters for processing, authorities said.

Westover has been charged with carrying a handgun without a license, possession of unregistered ammunition and unlawful possession of a firearm.

According to a police report obtained by CNN, Westover had a black 9mm Sig Sauer handgun and 20 rounds of ammunition.

The incident happened less than a month after the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot and just one week after President Biden's inauguration.

Security has been heightened around D.C. since the Capitol breach, with tens of thousands of National Guard members deployed.