A woman intentionally drove her van into a security barrier near the White House on Friday, the Secret Service said. They also reported that she had a pistol in her hand.
The is not Jessica Ford's first encounter with agents, according to the Secret Service.
The security barrier is located at 17th and E Streets. The Secret Service said Ford did not breach the security barrier of the White House complex.
A witness told WUSA9 reporter John Henry he saw the van ram into the barrier.
“The person kept trying to push through the barricade,” he recalled. “The tires were burning rubber, they were smoking a lot.”
Before being removed from the van, Secret Service noticed a pistol in Ford's hand, which was pointed in the opposite directions of officers. Ford did not comply when asked to drop the gun. The gun had to be removed from Ford's hand before she was forcibly removed from behind the steering wheel.
She was immediately taken into custody. No shots were fired and no one was hurt.
The Secret Service said this isn’t the first time agents have encountered Ford near the White House.
The 35-year-old from LaVergne, Tenn. has had previous incidents near the presidential home, which also resulted in arrests and charges.
The White House complex has returned to normal operations.
