Man Arrested For Carrying ‘AK-47-Style’ Rifle While Demanding To See Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers

A man was arrested for showing up with weapons at the Wisconsin state capitol in Madison while looking for Gov. Tony Evers (D).

After his initial arrest, he posted bail and returned to the same site, this time carrying an AK-47-style rifle. He was then arrested again by the Wisconsin State Capitol Police.

According to a state spokeswoman, Tatyana Warrick, the man was shirtless and had a dog on a leash. He first came to the security desk outside the governor’s office with a handgun, demanding to see the governor. The arrest was made on the grounds that it is illegal to openly possess a firearm inside the State Capitol, the spokeswoman said. He was carrying the weapon in a holster, and it was confiscated by the authorities as evidence. The dog that he had with him at the time of his arrest was given to animal control officers.

The man has been identified as Joshua J. Pleasnick, 43. Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said the accused was moved to the Dane County Jail on a charge of possessing a firearm in a public building, which is a misdemeanor.

Pleasnick was released around 8 p.m. after he bailed himself out. An hour after his release, he once again showed up outside the Capitol building with an “AK-47-style” rifle, repeating his demand to see the governor.

His backpack was then searched by the Capitol Police and Madison Police officers and they recovered a collapsible police-style baton. Warrick said that Pleasnick was which carrying this weapon without a valid concealed-carry permit is illegal.

“Based on concerning statements made by the man, officers took him into custody shortly before midnight for a psychiatric evaluation. The rifle was seized by Capitol Police for safekeeping and the baton was seized as evidence,” she said.