Man Jumps Fence Of Presidential Residence

monjola sotubo

September 20, 2014 6:32 PM

The White House had to be evacuated after a man scaled the fence and made it into the building before being captured

A man in America caused panic in the White House when he jumped over the fence and landed inside the premises, AFP reports.

The intruder, identified as Omar Gonzalez, reportedly made it into the building before he was stopped.

President Barack Obama and his family were not in the residence as they had supposedly departed minutes earlier for Camp David, the presidential weekend retreat.

However, the incident still triggered an evacuation as officials and journalists were rushed out of the building.

Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary said the intruder was 42 years old and from Texas. Leary added:

"It appeared to responding officers that he was unarmed, which turned out to be true,"

"Gonzalez ignored the commands of those officers to stop and ultimately was apprehended by officers just inside the North Portico doors of the White House."

"Any time someone jumps the fence, there is a security breach and the Secret Service has to balance security with access and reasonableness,"

Leary also reportedly said that Gonzalez was suffering from chest pains and had been taken to George Washington Hospital for a medical evaluation.

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