While the entire first family was enjoying Thanksgiving Day at the White House, Joseph Caputo, from Stamford, Conn., decided to jump the White House fence at around 2:45 p.m. EST.
Witnesses report that they heard Caputo take a deep breath and tell himself “All right, let’s do this” right before he made his jump. With the American flag draped over his shoulders like a cape and a manila folder held in his mouth, Caputo scaled the newly heightened fence. Clearly this was planned.
The U.S. Secret Service responded immediately by shutting down the White House grounds, which remained closed until 6:30 p.m. Uniformed Secret Service officers chased Caputo, quickly apprehending and arresting Caputo.
Despite their diligence, the Secret Service will undoubtedly be under heavy scrutiny. After all, this is “the seventh time in two years someone has jumped the White House fence.” In response to the jumpers, the fence was heightened by adding new spikes. The Secret Service reassured that the new height of the fence could not be scaled by intruders. Caputo proved them wrong.
I am curious to know whether the Secret Service tested this new fence by having people attempt to jump over it. Even if they had, they obviously did not take into account how determined some crazy people can be. Hopefully, the Secret Service will learn from this incident as they go back to the drawing board.
I am always impressed at people’s attempts to get onto the White House premises. Why Caputo made the leap has yet to be revealed. Regardless, Caputo had to have known the severe consequences of his crazy actions. Though the Secret Service have had their problems, their first goal is to protect the first family. Caputo had to have known the Secret Service would be on heightened alert in protecting the entire first family, not only because they were all home, but because it was a holiday.
I guess everyone has to have their 15 minutes of fame. For tonight, Caputo’s 15 minutes will be spent in jail.
