White House fence jumper had ammunition, machete in car, prosecutors said

mr. 13 in 33 · Sep 22, 2014

Federal prosecutors alleged Monday in federal court that a man who jumped a fence and ran into the White House’s unlocked front door Friday night posed a threat to President Obama and was keeping 800 rounds of ammunition, two hatchets and a machete in his car, parked blocks away.

Omar Jose Gonzalez, 42, formerly of Copperas Cove, Tex., appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola of the District on one charge of unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon.

After a 15-minute hearing, Facciola ordered Gonzalez held until Oct. 1, pending revocation of bond by authorities in an unrelated July 19 incident in Wythe County, Va. In that case he was arrested while allegedly carrying a sawed-off shotgun, two sniper rifles and several other firearms, as well as a map of the Washington area with the Masonic Temple in Alexandria, Va., circled and a line pointed toward the White House, a local prosecutor said.

Earlier, on Aug. 25, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Mudd said, U.S. Secret Service officers saw Gonzalez carrying a hatchet in the back waistband of his pants along the south fence of the White House and questioned him. Gonzalez agreed to let them search his vehicle, parked nearby on New York Avenue NW, but at that time found only camping gear and two dogs, and released him.

Gonzalez’s “preoccupation with the White House and accumulation of a large amount of ammunition in apparently a short period of time represented a danger to the president,” Mudd said.Authorities in Wythe County, about 300 miles southwest of Washington, released Gonzalez this summer pending a felony charge of allegedly eluding a police officer while possessing a sawed-off shotgun and a map.

The Secret Service on Saturday began a security review to learn how Gonzalez, who was carrying a Spyerdco VG10 folding knife with a 31 / 2- inch serrated blade in his pocket, was allegedly able to breach the White House doors after jumping the Pennsylvania Avenue fence and sprinting more than 70 yards across the North Lawn. It is the first time a fence-jumper has entered the White House.

Obama and his family had left the White House about 10 minutes before the incident occurred at 7:20 p.m. Friday.

In the wake of the incident the Secret Service has increased foot patrols and stepped-up surveillance, White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Monday. He said changes also were made at the gate used by guests.

“The Secret Service does a great job,” Obama said Monday. “I’m grateful for all the sacrifices they make on my behalf and on my family’s behalf.”

According to an affidavit signed by Secret Service officer David Hochman, Gonzalez after his arrest told Agent Lee Smart that he was concerned that the “atmosphere was collapsing” and that he needed to inform the president to get the word out to the people.

However, neither prosecutors nor Gonzalez’s assigned defense attorneys invoked his mental competency as an issue for now. Assistant Federal Public Defender David Bos said Gonzalez understands the proceeding against him.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...7ece60-4274-11e4-b47c-f5889e061e5f_story.html

Mr. Clutch · Sep 22, 2014

dback816 · Sep 22, 2014

So he didn't actually bring all that stuff with him when he jumped over?

percicles · Sep 22, 2014

dback816 said: ↑

So he didn't actually bring all that stuff with him when he jumped over?
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Real life is not Fallout 3

nickb492 · Sep 23, 2014

percicles said: ↑

Real life is not Fallout 3
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Your Damn right. Super mutants would have torn is ass up before he even got close to the fence.

Rocket River · Sep 23, 2014

. . . and they still managed to capture him alive . .. . . .
I wonder if they were 'afraid for their lives' . . . . .

It is safer being this guy than an unarmed black teen walking the streets for Ferguson Missouri. . . .. .

Rocket River

droopy421 · Sep 23, 2014

Rocket River said: ↑

. . . and they still managed to capture him alive . .. . . .
I wonder if they were 'afraid for their lives' . . . . .

It is safer being this guy than an unarmed black teen walking the streets for Ferguson Missouri. . . .. .

Rocket River
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I'm sure white house security is a tad better trained than the Ferguson PD.

Mr. Clutch · Sep 23, 2014

droopy421 said: ↑

I'm sure white house security is a tad better trained than the Ferguson PD.
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No they're racist

rudan · Sep 23, 2014

Rocket River said: ↑

. . . and they still managed to capture him alive . .. . . .
I wonder if they were 'afraid for their lives' . . . . .

It is safer being this guy than an unarmed black teen walking the streets for Ferguson Missouri. . . .. .

Rocket River
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He wasnt black, LOL :grin:

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White House fence jumper had ammunition, machete in car, prosecutors said

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