A man who crashed a rented box truck into security barriers near the White House faces multiple criminal charges, US Park Police said on Tuesday following an overnight incident that authorities said may have been intentional.
The suspect was charged with threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict harm on the president, vice president or a family member, among other charges, the US Park Police said in a statement. It did not identify the adult male charged.
US Secret Service said it had detained the man following the crash on Monday night but that there was no ongoing danger and no injuries.
A Reuters witness said investigators found a Nazi swastika flag inside the truck, which crashed into barriers at Lafayette Square, adjacent to the White House grounds.
“Preliminary investigation reveals the driver may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square,” Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said on Twitter.
The suspect also faces charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, trespassing, destruction of federal property and reckless operation of a vehicle, Park police said.
WUSA TV showed the video of authorities approaching a box-type, U-Haul truck. A remote-controlled robot opened its rear door, revealing a dolly but no other obvious cargo. Chris Zaboji, a pilot who witnessed the crash, posted a brief video on social media later verified by Reuters.
