White House Briefly on Lockdown After Robbery Suspect Jumped Fence

By Staff Writer | Apr 27, 2016 07:41 AM EDT

United States' White House briefly went into a lock down on Tuesday after a man made an attempt to jump over its fence. The presidential mansion's security said the man was fleeing after snatching a woman's purse nearby the area.

The NBC News reported that the state of lockdown went on a "condition yellow", which started 4:00 in the afternoon. It was then lifted after thirty minutes, according to the Secret Service. Visiting tourists were told to clear the Lafayette Park, located north of the White House.

A spokesman for the D.C. Fire Department said an unidentified man hopped over a security fence at the Eisenhower Executive Office building, also called as the Old Executive Office Building that is next to the White House. The jumper cut his hand, and was treated by the EMTs. The male suspect was then brought in Secret Service custody.

Authorities said the man was engaged on a robbery at 17th and G Streets NW and was being chased on foot by police officers, CNN News reported. He then jumped over the presidential mansion's fence in an attempt to escape from the law enforcers.

The identity of the man, such as his name and age were not provided. During the incident, US president Barack Obama was staying at the White House.

Meanwhile, according to ABC News, the jumper was brought to hospital for evaluation of his minor hand injury. Officials said believe the man was not aware that he was hopping over the White House's fence.

There have been many cases of fence jumpers near the presidential mansion. This month, a man was also charged for trespassing after he threw his backpack over the fence in North lawn, and hopped over.

Another case of fence jumping involves a man draped in an American flag scaling a fence at the White House. According to his lawyer, his client was only trying to "deliver a message" on Thanksgiving Day.

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