WASHINGTON -- Authorities near the White House arrested a man after he drove up to a security checkpoint in his car and drew the attention of wary police dogs, police said.
The car approached a checkpoint at an intersection near Lafayette Park, just north of the White House, soon after 6 p.m. Wednesday, and police dogs grew suspicious of the car, according to police accounts. Several fire trucks, police cars and other emergency vehicles reported to the area after the driver was taken into custody.
The driver was questioned before being arrested for possession of unregistered ammunition (shotgun shells) and having an unregistered vehicle, said Ed Donovan, a spokesman for the Secret Service. The man reportedly said he had a present for President Bush.
The car was found to be safe about two hours later, Donovan said.
Donovan identified the man as Andrew Martin, 20. Martin was from Delaware, Donovan said, though the agency spokesman did not know what city.
