Over the weekend, a man was arrested for breaking into the Illinois State Capitol Building. According to the police, he broke a window to gain entry.

On Sunday, November 5, 2023, around 9:30 p.m., a man named James J. Kirst entered a construction area on the northeast side of the Illinois State Capitol Building. He climbed a scaffold to reach the roof area, broke several windows, and went inside.

The police responded to the incident, and Kirst exited the building through an emergency exit. He was then apprehended in the parking lot.

Kirst was taken to St. John’s Hospital by the Springfield Police Department for a mental evaluation. The Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged Kirst with Criminal Damage to Government Property under $500, which is a class 4 felony. He was released on pre-trial conditions and is expected to appear in court on November 30, 2023.