The White House was briefly locked down Monday during two incidents near Lafayette Park, according to a U.S. Secret Service (USSS) statement quoted by Reuters.
The statement placed the car crash shortly before 10 a.m. EST and said officers arrested the driver. It described the driver’s conduct toward law enforcement as combative. At about the same time, the statement reported a second arrest near the park’s northwest corner involving a person who had jumped a barricade. The agency said it was investigating both incidents.
The Associated Press said a social media video it reviewed showed smoke around the vehicle and appeared to capture it striking a sign or post at the north end of Lafayette Square. AP also reported that the White House press corps was told to go to the briefing room shortly after 10 a.m. EST.
Reuters reported that roads around the park were closed and President Donald Trump was at the White House. Lafayette Park is directly across from the White House.
