US Secret Service investigates after man jumps White House fence, reaches doors
WASHINGTON - A man jumped over the White House fence and made it to the front doors of the executive mansion before being apprehended on Friday, sparking an evacuation within the complex shortly after President Barack Obama departed for the weekend.
Omar J. Gonzales, a 42-year-old white male from Texas, made it onto the grounds at 7:20 EDT (11:20pm GMT), a US Secret Service spokesman said. Gonzales ignored commands to stop and was ultimately caught, unarmed, just inside the North Portico doors of the White House, one of the building's main entrances.
The intruder's ability to get so far on the grounds before being apprehended is very unusual for a complex that is heavily guarded by Secret Service officers and snipers. He was arrested and taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation..
