scaled and jumped over a fence and made it into the building before
being captured.
US President Barack Obama and his family were not at the White House
at the time, though officials and journalists were rushed out of the
building during the disturbance that began on the North Lawn around
7:20 pm (2320 GMT) Friday, the Secret Service said.
Obama had just minutes before left by helicopter with his family from
the South Lawn headed for Camp David, the presidential weekend
retreat.
Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary identified the suspect as Omar
Gonzalez, 42, from Copperas Cove, Texas.
"It appeared to responding officers that he was unarmed, which turned
out to be true," Leary added.
"Gonzalez ignored the commands of those officers to stop and
ultimately was apprehended by officers just inside the North Portico
doors of the WhiteHouse."
Leary said the suspect was taken to George Washington Hospital for a
medical evaluation.
Gonzalez was suffering from chest pains, according to a law
enforcement official.
"Any time someone jumps the fence, there is a security breach and the
Secret Service has to balance security with access and
reasonableness," the official added.
"The location of the arrest -- the White House -- is not acceptable to
the Secret Service and the response will be reviewed."
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