U-Haul truck crashes into barriers near White House, suspect in custody: officials

Table Of Content

• Homeowner's jewelry stolen during 'distraction burglary,' police say
• Everything we know about suspect who crashed U-Haul near White House
• No Presidential Immunity for Personal Crimes Dressed in 'Official' Clothing
• Biden officials indefinitely postpone ban on menthol cigarettes amid election-year pushback

A video showing the moment a U-Haul truck crashed into security barriers in Lafayette Square, near the White House, has begun to circulate online. Had the barriers been breached, two fences providing additional layers of security would have been in-between the driver and the White House. Lafayette Square has long been one of the nation’s most prominent venues for demonstration near the Executive Mansion. The park was closed for nearly a year after federal authorities fenced off the area at the height of nationwide protests over policing following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, but it reopened in May 2021. Kandula allegedly traveled from St. Louis to Dulles International Airport where he rented a U-Haul truck and drove to the White House, law enforcement sources told ABC News.

Homeowner's jewelry stolen during 'distraction burglary,' police say

Kandula was arrested on multiple charges, and prosecutors charged him with damaging U.S. property. Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, removed the flag from a backpack shortly after smashing the box truck into the barrier near the north side of Lafayette Square on Monday around 10 p.m., according to charging documents. Park Police officer who rushed to the scene of the crash and saw him take out the flag. The Secret Service interviewed Kandula on Monday night, and the charge that he threatened to kill, kidnap or harm the president, vice president or a relative is related to his statements, a Secret Service spokesman told NBC News. Rent the moving truck you need on your schedule with U-Haul Truck Share 24/7®. With this flexibility, you can reserve your truck rental when you want and how you want.

Everything we know about suspect who crashed U-Haul near White House

A Missouri man with a Nazi flag planned for months to "seize power" and kill the president before authorities say he crashed a U-Haul truck into security barriers near the White House on Monday, according to newly released court documents. A U-Haul truck crashed into security barriers around Lafayette Square across the street from the White House Monday night, the Secret Service said. The driver of the truck had a Nazi flag with him when he was arrested, according to court documents. Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, of Chesterfield, Missouri, is being held without bond and appeared in federal court Wednesday. The other three dropped charges were assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and trespassing. All four of those charges could come back when he is formally indicted, but he was not charged with them on Wednesday.

No Presidential Immunity for Personal Crimes Dressed in 'Official' Clothing

The source said the FBI was involved in the investigation, and the man didn't show up on any watch lists. He didn't appear to have any significant criminal record, according to checks done overnight. U.S. Park Police on Tuesday identified the driver as Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, of Chesterfield, Missouri. Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon, where he was determined to be a flight risk and a "significant risk to the community." They protect a pathway that leads directly to the White House, which can be seen in the distance.

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The young man from suburban St. Louis has allegedly told authorities he admires Nazis and had hoped to "seize power" following his U-Haul crash, officials said. The Reuters news agency published an image showing a Nazi-style red flag emblazoned with a swastika laid on the ground beside the van. Reuters, citing its own photographer on the scene and a witness, reported that the items apparently taken from the truck had been placed on the sidewalk and were seized by officers. No weapons, ammunition or explosives were found in the truck, according to court documents filed by the U.S.

The square has also long been one of the nation’s most prominent venues for demonstrations. The park was closed for nearly a year after federal authorities fenced off the area at the height of nationwide protests over police brutality following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Secret Service agents that he’d flown from St. Louis on a one-way ticket that night after months of planning. He wanted to “get to the White House, seize power, and be put in charge of the nation,” and he said he would “kill the president, if that’s what I have to do,” charges state.

Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, removed the flag from a backpack shortly after smashing the box truck into the barrier near the north side of Lafayette Square around 10 p.m. Park Police officer who rushed to the scene of the crash and reported seeing him take out the flag. Kandula told police he brought the flag because "Nazis have a great history" and he admired their "authoritarian nature, eugenics and their one world order," according to court documents. The white U-Haul box truck crashed into the barriers on the north side of Lafayette Square, a few hundred feet from the White House, just before 10 p.m. The 19-year-old Missouri man accused of driving a truck into barriers near the White House made incriminating statements that indicated to investigators that he was seeking to harm the president, officials said Tuesday.

U-Haul crashes into security barrier near White House; driver had Nazi flag in truck with him - KABC-TV

U-Haul crashes into security barrier near White House; driver had Nazi flag in truck with him.

Posted: Tue, 23 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

He allegedly told police that he wanted to “seize power” and “kill the president,” according to a statement of facts filed by a Secret Service agent in court documents released on 23 May. A 19-year-old man has been charged with threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict harm on the president, vice president or their family members after allegedly ramming a truck into bollards outside a park near the White House. Kandula was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon; reckless operation of a motor vehicle; threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict harm on a president, vice president, or family member; destruction of federal property; and trespassing.

Sai Varshith Kandula was arrested after “intentionally” crashing a U-Haul box truck into barriers outside Lafayette Park in Washington DC at roughly 9.40pm on 22 May, according to US Park Police and US Secret Service. Kandula was arrested on multiple counts, and prosecutors charged him with damaging U.S. property. A witness, Chris Zaboji, said the driver smashed into the barrier at least twice.

President Joe Biden was in the White House when the truck crashed outside, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday. He had met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Monday night to discuss the debt limit. Investigators and prosecutors, however, have suggested that the weightier matter was his alleged intention to seize power and harm the president if necessary. The truck crashed on the northern side of Lafayette Square at around 10 p.m. Monday night, according to Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi.

Based on a preliminary investigation, investigators believe the driver "may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square,” the Secret Service said. Authorities offered no additional details about a possible motive. Based on a preliminary investigation, investigators believe the driver “may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square,” Guglielmi said. Authorities have identified a man who was arrested and charged after he allegedly crashed a U-Haul truck into security barriers on the north side of Lafayette Square near the White House Monday. (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED (due to hate symbol appearing in the video). The truck crashed into security barriers on the north side of Lafayette Square at 16th Street just before 10 p.m., and officers detained the driver, the US Secret Service said.