Suspect in White House breach faces more charges

WASHINGTON — A 42-year-old Army veteran accused of breaching White House security last month faces additional charges after a grand jury reviewed more evidence in the case.

In an indictment made public Thursday, the federal grand jury charged Omar Gonzalez, an unemployed, homeless man from Texas, with two counts of resisting or assaulting a federal officer and one count of possession of a large-capacity ammunition-feeding device. An earlier indictment charged Gonzalez with unlawfully entering a restricted area while carrying a deadly weapon, possession of an illegal weapon and possession of ammunition.

The unprecedented White House security breach led to congressional hearings, widespread criticism of the Secret Service and the resignation of Julia Pierson as Secret Service director.

Gonzalez allegedly scaled a White House perimeter fence Sept. 19, ignored a Secret Service officer's order to stop and ran toward the White House. He allegedly pushed through the north doors of the White House and got as far as the East Room before a Secret Service officer tackled him. Agents searched him and found a 3½-inch folding knife with a serrated blade in his pants pocket. In a search of Gonzalez's car, police found more than 800 rounds of ammunition, two hatchets and a machete, court papers say.

The additional charges accuse Gonzalez of resisting Secret Service officers Philicia Brice and Michael Graham minutes before he was stopped and possessing a gun magazine that held more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

Gonzalez told Secret Service agents he breached White House security Sept. 19 because he wanted to warn President Obama about the atmosphere collapsing, court papers say.

The incident was Gonzalez's third encounter with police in recent months. In July, Virginia State Police arrested him on charges of driving erratically. They found a map with the White House circled and stash of weapons, including a sawed off shotgun, in his car. In August, federal agents questioned Gonzalez when he was spotted near the White House perimeter fence with a hatchet tucked into his waistband.

Gonzalez will appear in court Oct. 21.