Gettysburg man trashed Pa. Capitol after fight with his girlfriend, police say

HARRISBURG – A Gettysburg man who caused possibly tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage during a vandalism spree in the Capitol early Sunday was drunk and sneaked into the building after a fight with his girlfriend, officials said Monday.

But why Ryan Stump targeted the domed statehouse – and decided to spray a fire extinguisher on walls covered with portraits of past Senate presidents – remains an unanswered question, police said.

"Somehow he ended up in a fight and he ended up here," Capitol Police Deputy Superintendent Kevin Brown said Monday.

Stump, 27, went to Harrisburg with his girlfriend last weekend.

He entered the statehouse through a first-floor window just before 2 a.m. Sunday and roamed for about 10 minutes before police caught him after a brief foot chase, police said. He was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, vandalism, public drunkenness, and other crimes.

The spree, recorded on security cameras, caused between $10,000 and $30,000 worth of damage, police said.

Drew Crompton, the top lawyer for Senate Republicans, said seven portraits of past Senate presidents, which hang along the first-floor hallway in the Capitol, were removed by Capitol staff to be inspected for damage. He said Senate officials plan to pursue Stump for restitution.

Stump, who was released on $25,000 bail, awaits a preliminary hearing this month in Dauphin County. He did not respond to several voice messages left at his home. It could not be determined if he had a defense lawyer.

The Senate on Monday told staffers to stay home as it awaits the results of air quality tests.

The Capitol is closed at night, and requires all visitors to check in with security and go through a metal detector. Brown said he was not aware of anyone trying to break into the Capitol in the past.