Updated | No matter how high and how many spikes, the White House fence seems to attract people who attempt to scale it, often in costume. Who can forget the man, dressed like Pikachu, who dramatically rolled onto the lawn after hopping the fence back in 2014?
It was an intrusion last year by an Army veteran, who scaled the fence with a hunting knife in his possession, that prompted authorities to beef up security around the premises with metallic spikes, and a bike rack-type fence.
The latest jumper was a man, draped in an American flag, who scaled the fence on the North Lawn around 2:45 p.m. on Thursday while the Obamas were inside eating their Thanksgiving dinner, according to ABC News. The Secret Service has identified the jumper as Joseph Caputo.
The White House was immediately placed on lockdown. According to NBC News, the culprit was apprehended on the "front door" side of the building, along Pennsylvania Avenue, and has since been taken to custody. He now faces criminal charges, the Secret Service confirmed on Thursday evening.
It's unclear what the man's intentions were, though a witness speaking to The Washington Post noted that Caputo was wielding a binder in his mouth as he made his way over the fence. Maybe the jumper wanted to share a recipe with Obama, or was just hoping for a slice of White House pumpkin pie?
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Paula Mejia is a reporter and culture writer. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, Rolling Stone, The A.V. Club, Pitchfork, ... Read more
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