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Man climbs White House fence, races toward mansion before being seized Man climbs White House fence, gets arrested just inside mansion’s doors
(about 1 hour later)
A man climbed over the White House fence and raced toward the north entrance of the mansion Friday night, apparently only minutes after President Obama went out the south entrance on his way to Camp David. A man climbed over the White House fence, raced across the lawn and through the north portico doors Friday night, apparently only minutes after President Obama went out the south entrance on his way to Camp David, authorities said.
The man, who was not armed, was arrested just inside the doors, Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan said.
A Secret Service official said that the location of the arrest “was unacceptable” and would be reviewed by the agency.
The official said that at least part of the reason that the man was permitted to get so far was that he did not appear to be armed or carrying anything. In addition, the official said, first family members were not inside.
The man was identified as Omar J. Gonzalez, 42, of Copperas Cove, Tex., Donovan said. Donovan said he was charged with unlawful entry into the White House complex. It was unclear why he had allegedly climbed the fence.
He was taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation.
The incident prompted a temporary evacuation of at least parts of the White House, and people were herded out of Lafayette Square, which is north of and just across the street from the building.The incident prompted a temporary evacuation of at least parts of the White House, and people were herded out of Lafayette Square, which is north of and just across the street from the building.
The intruder scaled the fence on the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the White House and reached the North Lawn, said a witness, who was across the street when the incident occurred, shortly after 7 p.m. After climbing the fence, the man “pretty much landed on his feet and started sprinting,” said a witness, Philipos Melaku-Bello, who was part of a peace vigil. “He got a good run in.”
“He pretty much landed on his feet and started sprinting,” said the witness, Philipos Melaku-Bello, who was part of a peace vigil. He said the man “definitely got past the fountain” on the North Lawn. “He got a good run in.”
A flurry of shouts went up, calling on the man to halt, with some coming from officers posted on the roof, the witness said.A flurry of shouts went up, calling on the man to halt, with some coming from officers posted on the roof, the witness said.
The man was taken into custody, but not before getting close to the North Portico of the mansion, Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said. The man was not identified immediately, and the motive for the intrusion was unclear. According to the White House schedule, Obama was expected to leave for the Maryland retreat at 7:05 p.m. The exact time the helicopter carrying him and his daughters lifted from the South Lawn was not known, but it was apparently only a few minutes before the intruder climbed the north fence.
According to the White House schedule, the president was expected to leave for the Maryland retreat at 7:05 p.m. The exact time the helicopter carrying him and his daughters lifted from the South Lawn was not known, but it was apparently only a few minutes before the intruder climbed the north fence. Donovan said the departure for Camp David was “shortly before” the man climbed the fence.
A video posted on the ABC News Web site showed a man in dark clothing racing toward the White House. It is not uncommon for intruders to breach the fence, but the man appeared to get closer to the mansion than many. A video posted on the ABC News Web site showed a man in dark clothing racing toward the White House.
Intruders breach the fence from time to time, but few, if any incidents have been reported of someone getting inside doors.
In a recent incident, a man climbed the fence on Sept. 11 and was taken into custody on the North Lawn.
Clarence Williams contributed to this report.