(WASHINGTON) – Police have arrested a Missouri man they believe intentionally crashed a U-Haul truck into a security barrier at a park in front of the White House.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that the driver of the box truck crashed into the barrier on the north side of Lafayette Square around 10 p.m. Monday. He was identified as a 19-year-old man from the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield.
No one was injured in the accident.
Secret Service and Metropolitan Police Department officers searched the truck after the accident. Video posted by WUSA-TV shows a police officer lifting and cataloging several pieces of evidence, including Nazi flags, from the truck.
Based on a preliminary investigation, investigators believe the driver “may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square,” Guglielmi said. Authorities did not provide any additional details about a possible motive.
US Park Police said the man was arrested on multiple charges, including making threats to kill, kidnap or harm the president, vice president or a member of their family; assault with a dangerous weapon; reckless driving; destruction of federal property; and trespass.
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 places for demonstrations. The park was closed for nearly a year after federal authorities closed the area at the height of nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, but is slated to reopen in May 2021.
U-Haul is a moving truck, trailer and self-storage rental company based in Phoenix.
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