Man Jumps Fence, Reaches White House Doors Before Secret Service Catches Him
A man jumped over the fence of the White House and made it to the North Portico of the executive mansion Friday, before being apprehended by secret service agents.
The 42-year-old Omar J. Gonzales, a white male from Texas, tried to breach the security at around 7.20 EDT and ignored commands to stop and kept on moving, reports Reuters.
He was unarmed. He was arrested and taken to hospital for an evaluation as is standard procedure. The man also complained of chest pains before he was rushed to the medical facility.
"The Secret Service will review the response to ensure that the proper protocol was followed," spokesman Ed Donovan said, reports Reuters.
Donovan added that Gonzales had made it to the doors was "not acceptable to us and it's going to be closely reviewed."
The President and his family had just left for the weekend for the presidential retreat at Camp David but White House staff members were evacuated as a precaution, officials said, reports the New York Times.
This is the second security breach at the White House in this month. A man was apprehended on the North Lawns on Sept. 11 after he jumped the fence. In August, a toddler had slipped through the fence bars and was caught and returned to his parents.
Secret service officials have mulled closing down the Pennsylvania Avenue to the public to prevent such intrusions. It is a favorite tourist destination and is most times crowded.
