On September 19, 2014, an intruder scaled the fence outside the White House and was able to evade the Secret Service.
Omar J. Gonzalez of Copperas Cove, TX was able to get over the fences and he was able to get inside of the building before the security apprehended him. He was in possession of a knife at the time.
When the authorities later searched his vehicle, they found weapons and more than 800 rounds of ammunition and a machete.
After the arrest, they deemed Omar to be a flight risk and did not release him. They will detain him until his October 1 hearing.
This post discusses the Gonzalez’ case, other incidents at the White House, and what businesses and individuals should learn from this.
This was not the first time Omar had a run in with the law. In fact, David Mudd, the federal prosecutor in this case, detailed two other recent incidents that involved Omar.
In July, homeless Omar was arrested for evading the police and being in possession of a sawed off shotgun and a map of Washington D.C. On the map, the White House and a Masonic Temple were circled. When they arrested him that time, he also had rifles, handguns, and ammunition in his vehicle.
The second occasion, in August, had Gonzales stopped outside of the White House in possession of a hatchet. The police did not arrest him at that time. They did search his vehicle at that point, but they did not find any other weapons.
A statement from the suspect to the Secret Service said that “he was concerned that the atmosphere was collapsing and needed to get the information to the President of the United States so that he could get word out to the people.”
Naturally, this latest breach of the White House is making them review their security policies and procedures. It is obvious that the security was not tight enough, and this could give other criminals, including those from outside of the United States, ideas of their own. The visibility of security around the White House has been increased.
Other incidents at the White House
This is only the latest in a number of incidents to occur in the area outside of the White House. A year ago, a man was arrested for throwing firecrackers over the fence and onto the lawn. A few weeks after that incident, a woman rammed her car into a security checkpoint near the White House. In May of 2014, a man was arrested after following a motorcade with the President and his daughters through the gates and into an area near the White House.
Alarmingly, it was just a couple of weeks ago, on September 11, that a man jumped the fence. The incident with Omar Gonzales happened just a week later, prompting people to wonder about just how secure the White House really is.
What businesses and individuals can learn about security
While your place of business might not have the same level of political power that the White House has, and you might not be playing host to foreign dignitaries, security is still important. As you can see from the recent goings on at the White House, security can be difficult to maintain anywhere.
Even though your company will probably not be dealing with the likes of Omar J. Gonzalez, there are plenty of other elements of security you need to address. Certainly, you need to think about the physical safety and security of yourself and the people who work in your building, as well as the goods and materials that you keep there. Consulting with security specialists can make a big difference in just how safe you and your employees are, and it’s a good idea for companies of all sizes.
Individuals may also want to speak with a security consultant about how they can improve the security around their home. Burglaries and home invasions are increasingly common, so improving home security can help to keep the family safe and secure.
Be it business or your personal residence, the cost to purchase, install and monitor a security system is relatively inexpensive. We do not sell any products at Martin Investigative Services so that when we recommend security equipment or companies, we do so without any personal gain.
One of the top companies selling security systems in the United States is Safe-T-Security based in the Southern California area. The Director of Sales is Mr. Mike Kebelbeck and he can be reached on his cell number of 714.815.9979.
