Kevin Johnson

USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — A 41-year-old Iowa man was arrested near the White House Wednesday after the Secret Service recovered a shotgun, ammunition and a knife from his vehicle, officials said.

R.J. Kapheim of Davenport allegedly initiated a conversation with a uniformed Secret Service officer near the White House, saying that "someone in Iowa'' had directed him to drive to D.C., Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary said.

Leary said that Kapheim later consented to a search of his 2013 Volkswagen Passat with Iowa license plates where officers recovered a hunting rifle, more than 40 rounds of ammunition and the knife.

It was not immediately clear what Kapheim intended to do in D.C., or when he arrived.

Kapheim's arrest shortly before 1 p.m., came just after interim Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy completed his testimony before the House Judiciary Committee where he addressed a recent series of White House security lapses and agent misconduct.