Police have arrested a man they believe intentionally crashed a U-Haul truck into a security barrier at a park across from the White House.

The box truck's driver smashed into the barrier near the north side of Lafayette Square on Monday around 10 p.m., Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement. No one was injured.

Officers from the Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department searched the truck after the crash. Video posted by WUSA-TV shows a police officer at the scene picking up and inventorying several pieces of evidence from the truck, including a Nazi flag.

Based on a preliminary investigation, investigators believe the driver "may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square,” Guglielmi said. Authorities offered no additional details about the possible motive and had not released the driver's identity.

The U.S. Park Police said the man was arrested on multiple charges, including threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict harm on a president, vice president or member of their family; assault with a dangerous weapon; reckless driving; destruction of federal property; and trespassing.

Lafayette Square, which offers perhaps the best view of the White House available to the public, has long been one of the nation’s most prominent venues for demonstrations. The park was closed for nearly a year after federal authorities fenced off the area at the height of nationwide protests over policing following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, but it reopened in May 2021.

U-Haul is a moving truck, trailer and self-storage rental company based in Phoenix.

Share:
More In General News
In Case You Missed It: Work Crew Finds Sewer Gator in Florida
Well, it turns out the myth of sewer gators is real. A Florida work crew was on a job in Oviedo when they discovered a five-foot gator hanging out in a giant sewage pipe. The crew filmed the run in and posted it to their Facebook page where it has since gone viral.
Cheddar Paws: Why You Should Consider Adopting a Kitten
It's kitten season, and the ASPCA is asking cat lovers to step up and adopt. Valeria Caceres-Gil, senior manager of admissions and matchmaking at the ASPCA Adoption Center, joins Cheddar News to introduce some of furry friends that are currently looking for an owner.
Load More