Video: Teen charged with threatening president's life; allegedly rammed U-Haul into barriers near White House



A man is in custody after crashing a U-Haul into a security barrier outside Lafayette Park near the White House Monday night, the Secret Service and United States Park Police reported.

United States Park Police identified Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, of Chesterfield, Missouri, as the driver of the vehicle.

Kandula was arrested and 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.

"Shortly before 10:00 p.m. Monday, Secret Service Uniformed Division officers detained the driver of a box truck after the vehicle collided with security barriers on the north side of Layfatette Square at 16th Street," Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement on Twitter.

"There were no injuries to any Secret Service or White House personnel and the cause and manner of the crash remain under investigation."

Roads and pedestrian walkways were closed as officials investigated.

Guglielmi later reported the D.C. police had deemed the U-Haul "safe."

"Preliminary investigation reveals the driver may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square. Charges will be filed by the United States Park Police with investigative support from the Secret Service."

The man, a U.S. citizen, allegedly made threatening statements aimed at President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, a law enforcement source told CBS News.

The same source also told the outlet Kandula did not show up on any watch lists, nor did he appear to have any significant record.

No explosives or weapons were found inside the truck, CBS News also reported.

A report from CNN affiliate WUSA says investigators "apparently found a Nazi flag with belongings inside the truck." Other items included what appeared to be a black backpack and a roll of duct tape.

\u201cNEW: Investigators pulled what appears to be a Nazi flag out of the U-Haul, but they haven't provided any further details.\n\nHere's what we know: https://t.co/cXt81Ji2NA\u201d
— Troy Pope (@Troy Pope) 1684810481

Below, watch Twitter user @Itzajobi's clip of the incident, verified by Reuters, showing the box truck crashing into the security bollards outside Layfette Park.

\u201c@OhMyGOFF @shomaristone @fox5dc @LokayFOX5 Happened to walk by right before it happened\u2026crazy\u201d
— angie goff (@angie goff) 1684809190

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Democrat DC deputy mayor for 'public safety and justice' busted for assault and battery



The office of Washington, D.C., Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed on Wednesday that Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Chris Geldart, 53, was suspended for allegedly grabbing a man by the neck outside a gym on October 1. In a statement, Bowser's office downplayed the alleged assault and battery, suggesting it "sounds like something that happens to a lot of people — a dispute over something minor."

According to Arlington Police, around 12:25 p.m. on Saturday, outside Gold's Gym in Arlington, Virginia, Geldart got into a verbal confrontation with a smaller man, Dustin Woodard. Woodard works as a trainer at the gym.

The shouting began after the door of the deputy mayor's parked car allegedly struck a vehicle belonging to the victim's girlfriend. The interaction escalated, and Geldart allegedly seized Woodard by the throat.

After the incident, Geldart drove away. He was later informed by telephone of a warrant pertaining to assault and battery charges, at which time he turned himself in. Geldart was ultimately released on a summons.

Woodard told WTTG that Geldart is "way too big to be trying to be a bully, especially with his position. Something should be done."

"We've been dealing with him for a while at Gold's," said Woodard, alluding to multiple other instances in which the deputy mayor allegedly abused his power at the gym.

Geldart has been charged with assault and battery and placed on administrative leave. He has been the deputy mayor since January 2021.

Geldart was previously director of the Department of Public Works. He resigned from the post shortly after the Office of the Inspector General issued a report claiming he had committed two ethics violations, including having used his government office to benefit a "close personal acquaintance."

In 2017, four Bowser-appointed members of the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability dismissed a formal investigation into Geldart regarding potential ethics violations, having found "there was insufficient evidence to support a reasonable belief that a violation occurred."

Geldart has also served as director of the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.

Woodard told WUSA9 that while it was prudent to "show some compassion for him in this matter," what Geldart did "was wrong and shouldn't go unpunished."

"Do I feel that he should be in the position that he's in now? No, I don't," added Woodard.

\u201cSo far no luck getting Geldart\u2019s version of events. But Woodard wants \u201ccompassion\u201d for him. @wusa9\u201d
— Casey Nolen (@Casey Nolen) 1665027105

When a WTTG reporter presented the footage of her deputy allegedly assaulting Woodard, Mayor Bowser refused to look or respond.

\u201cTONIGHT ON @fox5dc: We have EXCLUSIVE video showing the moment DC Deputy Mayor Chris Geldart allegedly grabbed a man by his neck in a Gold\u2019s Gym parking lot in Arlington, VA. He is charged with assault and battery. I\u2019ll have reports for you coming up at 4 pm, 5 pm, and 6 pm.\u201d
— Sierra Fox (@Sierra Fox) 1664997930

According to police, during the incident, Geldart was cursing and shouting, and it was this that prompted Woodward to turn around and tell him to "shut up." The alleged choking can be seen in the footage obtained by WTTG.

DC Deputy Mayor charged with assault and battery after gym parking lot altercation | FOX 5 DC youtu.be

Lightning strike in front of the White House leaves four people with life-threatening injuries



Lightning struck outside of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday and four people were critically injured.

The incident occurred just before 7 p.m. on Thursday when the victims were found on Lafayette Square in front of the White House, near a statue of former President Andrew Jackson.

D.C. emergency services said in a tweet that two men and two women were hospitalized as a result of the strike and added that they all had critical life-threatening injuries.

Members of the Secret Service and U.S. Park Police administered CPR on the victims, who were unconscious when found, according to D.C. Fire and EMS Public Information Officer Vito Maggiolo.

Maggiolo could not elaborate on what injuries the four had suffered.

One video from a Fox weather camera showed a lightning strike from about the time the incident occurred.

\u201cWATCH: Fox weather camera captured this incredible lightning strike around the time the 4 people were struck near White House. https://t.co/9liRqW7tqx @fox5dc\u201d
— Lindsay Watts (@Lindsay Watts) 1659659654

CBS News White House correspondent Nancy Cordes also posted a video of the lightning strike and added that it was so loud that it made her and a CBS producer jump up in fright.

“That’s too close — we’re shutting down," said photographer Ron Windham.

In 2020, another lightning strike injured two National Guardsmen near Lafayette Park during the protests over the death of George Floyd. They were hospitalized with non life threatening injuries.

Officials shut down a portion of the park while emergency crews remained at the scene.

Here's a local news report about the incident:

Four in Critical Condition After Lightning Strikes Close to White Housewww.youtube.com