Police charge truck driver that crashed into security barrier at park near White House

WASHINGTON

A man was apprehended and charged in the US on suspicion of deliberately driving a truck into a security barricade at a park opposite the White House.

US Park Police and Secret Service Uniform Division officers were called to the 1600 block of H Street NW at around 9.40 p.m. local time Monday after a U-Haul box truck intentionally crashed into the bollards outside Lafayette Park. U-Haul is a moving trucks and storage company.

The driver was identified as Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, of Chesterfield, Missouri, according to a statement Tuesday by Park Police.

“Kandula was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, threatening to kill / kidnap / inflict harm on a president, vice president, or family member, destruction of federal property, and trespassing,” it said.

A Nazi flag was seized by authorities at the scene, according to footage of the incident.

A law enforcement official told NBC News that the suspect was apprehended shortly after making threatening statements about the White House at the scene. Authorities confirmed that no weapons or explosives were found inside the truck.

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• White House