White House witnesses rare evacuation after man slips through front door

The White House witnessed a rare evacuation on Friday after a man managed to jump over the fence of the official residence of US President, and slipped through the front door before being detained by officers.

According to ABC News, the security breach was likely to renew intense scrutiny of the Secret Service, an agency whose storied history has been marred in recent years by multiple allegations of misconduct by officers.

The incident took place right after US President Barack Obama along with his daughters and a guest left on a Marine One to Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland where Obama and his family were to spend the weekend, the report said.

Meanwhile, First Lady Michelle Obama was also not present at the residence, as she had left for Camp David much earlier.

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said after climbing the fence on the north side of the White House, the intruder rushed toward the presidential residence, unheeding commands from officers to stop.

He was later detained inside the North Portico doors - the grand, columned entrance that looks out over Pennsylvania Avenue.

The man was taken to a nearby hospital for examination after complaining of chest pain. He was charged with unlawful entry into the White House complex, the report added.