Intruder jumps White House fence, quickly arrested

WASHINGTON, April 20 (UPI) -- An intruder carrying a suspicious package scaled the fence of the south side of the White House complex at 10:30 p.m. Sunday but was quickly arrested by the Secret Service.

The package was examined and deemed harmless, according to Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary. Charges are pending for the individual, whose gender and age were not released.

The White House may implement steel spikes on the tips of the perimeter fence to fend off jumpers. The current fence is about eight feet tall.

The Secret Service has been under scrutiny recently. In September, Omar Gonzalez was charged for jumping the White House fence. Police said he was carrying a folding knife and that a search of his car revealed he had about 800 rounds of ammunition, a machete and two hatchets.

Gonzalez made it through much of the first floor of the White House, making it as far as the building's East Room.

If convicted, Gonzalez faces up to 10 years in prison on the federal charge, and five years on the weapons charge. The ammunition charge is punishable by a year behind bars.