Patrice Vincent, soldier killed in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, was close to retirement

Patrice Vincent, soldier killed in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, was close to retirement
Warrant officer served in the military for 28 years
CBC News
Posted: Oct 23, 2014

The family of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, who was killed Monday when he was struck in a targeted hit and run in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., is struggling to come to terms with his death.

“It's actually hard for us.… When it happens to somebody else in Canada — you hear that on the news — personally it touches me, but when it's closer to your family, it's harder to accept that,” said Vincent’s cousin and former soldier Sylvain Guerette.

'“My cousin was a nice guy … always ready to help, always smiling.' —Sylvain Guerette, cousin of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent

“When you lose a member of your family, especially in the Armed Forces, it's harder because you would like to be there. You would like to do something, but you can't.”

Guerette said Vincent had been thinking about retirement.
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Cpl. Nathan Cirillo's Dogs Wait For Him To Come Home

Gut-Wrenching Photos: Dogs Belonging to Canadian Soldier Killed in Terrorist Attack Seemingly Wait for Their Master to Return
The Blaze
Jason Howerton
Oct. 23, 2014

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Peter Power)

TORONTO (TheBlaze/AP) — Canadians mourned the army reservist killed in a terrorist attack on Parliament Hill, with friends remembering Cpl. Nathan Cirillo as a devoted father so ready to make people smile that he was once known as the class clown.

Gut-wrenching photos showing Cirillo’s dogs seemingly waiting for their master to return also emerged Thursday. Cirillo, a 24-year-old a reservist from Hamilton, Ontario, was shot dead as he stood guard before the country’s Tomb of the Unknown soldier, that start of an attack Wednesday that ended with a lone gunman storming into Parliament and opening fire before being shot dead himself.
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Ottawa shooting: Haunting last picture of soldier Nathan Cirillo moments before he was killed

Black Hawk Down CSM Robert Gallagher Died at 52

Decorated soldier from 'Black Hawk Down' battle in Somalia dies at 52
FoxNews.com
Published October 23, 2014

Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Gallagher was in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993 and in Baghdad for the U.S. invasion in 2003. When he retired, he worked to serve soldiers. He died on Oct. 13 at age 52.
(3rd Infantry Division/Facebook)

A decorated soldier who participated in the Somalia battle immortalized by Hollywood blockbuster “Black Hawk Down” was reportedly found dead in his Georgia home earlier this month.

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Gallagher, 52, died of natural causes as a result of a heart condition, the Army Times reports. He served as the command sergeant major for the Army’s Wounded Warrior Program, but had extensive experience in major combat operations, including Operation Just Cause in Panama and with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia, which was later made famous by the 2001 film.

“You know, I don’t say this lightly, but Bob is probably one of, probably the best soldier I ever served with, retired Col. Greg Gadson told the newspaper. “That man really cared about soldiers.”

Born in Bayonne, N.J., Gallagher joined the Army in 1981 and later earned several awards and decorations, including a Silver Star, two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars. He earned the Silver Star in 2002 during Operation Iraqi Freedom as troops advanced from Kuwait to Baghdad, when he suffered a leg wound but continued to direct his men.
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New Military Suicide Research Says Don't Blame the Army Again!

Ok. Really? Then how do they explain the fact there are mental health screenings for every recruit? How do they explain that part of all of this? Are they saying they are giving weapons and training to "unstable" recruits? They never even try to explain why they missed it if they actually did.

How do they explain that Comprehensive Soldier Fitness was supposed to be the answer for all but wasn't even good enough to prevent non-deployed soldiers from committing suicide? Any clue? They sure don't have any.

If any of this is true, although given the small percentage of the findings, it would indicated a massive failure of the Department of Defense to establish recruitment standards as well as failing to fulfil what they have claimed for years. They claim to have trained military folks and families to be "resilient" spending billions every year. Then why are families not informed and veterans don't even know the basics of how to heal?

This is more BS!

The Army May Not Increase Risk Of Suicide, More Suicidal People May Join
Science 20
By News Staff
October 23rd 2014

The second Army STARRS paper reported that 14.1 percent of new soldiers had considered suicide at some point in their life before enlisting, 2.3 percent of new soldiers had made a suicide plan, and that 1.9 percent of new soldiers previously attempted suicide.

Due to increased awareness of suicide and military life, there has been concern military lifestyle may be causing more suicides. A new study instead finds that new soldiers are twice as likely to have three or more psychological disorders, or comorbidity, prior to enlisting as civilians.

They may regard the military as a solution to their problems.

One recent study found that new soldiers and matched civilians are about equally likely to have experienced one major episode of mental illness in their lifetime (38.7 percent of new soldiers and 36.5 percent of civilians) but that some mental disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and conduct disorder) are more common among new soldiers than civilians. Only 6.5 percent of civilians were likely to have experienced a combination of three or more disorders, versus 11.3 percent for new soldiers.

Another study focused on suicide, finding that new soldiers had pre-enlistment rates of suicide thoughts and plans at rates roughly the same as matched civilians, but rates of pre-enlistment suicidality are higher among soldiers than civilians later in the Army career, implying that Army experiences might lead to chronicity of suicidality or that people more inclined to suicide joined the military and then stayed in.
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Alaska Rep. Don Young Should Apologize to Families After Suicide Comment

Murkowski asks for Young apology on suicide comments
Alaska Dispatch News
Alex DeMarban
October 23, 2014

Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she has asked Rep. Don Young to apologize to Alaskans for hurtful comments he made to high school students struggling with suicide.

“Earlier today, I talked to Don Young and encouraged him to rethink the past few days and apologize to Alaskans so we can all be rowing in the same direction against suicide,” Murkowski said in a Facebook post Thursday.

The request came after Young stunned students and staff at Wasilla High School on Tuesday -- just days after the suicide of a student -- by saying suicide was caused by a lack of support from parents and friends. That comment and others Young made at the school offended many in Alaska, where suicide rates are some of the highest in the country.

In a press release issued Thursday night, Sen. Mark Begich, who is also running for reelection, said "I believe Congressman Young’s statements were uninformed and inappropriate."

The statement said Begich had received dozens of calls to weigh in on the subject. "In addition to the alarming rates of suicide in our rural communities, especially among young Alaska Native men, there are troubling rates of suicide in the ranks of Alaska’s military and among our veterans," the statement continued, in part. "We need to encourage open conversations about this tragedy -- not make hurtful statements."
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Cops Caught Taking a Stand with PTSD Iraq Veteran

They not only stood by him, they helped him! They stood by him in court and then helped get community involved with helping him get on his feet again!

Allegheny County law enforcement officials honored at awards luncheon
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Liz Navratil
October 25, 2014

That February morning began like many others for detectives in the non-support squad at the Allegheny County sheriff's office. They intended to arrest a man on a warrant for failing to pay his child support.

But when they stepped inside the suburban Allegheny County home, “Immediately, there were red flags,” said Detective James Klingensmith.

The man’s wife told them her husband sustained a traumatic brain injury while serving in Iraq. He didn’t understand what was going on, and he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, she told them.

“The officers were legally bound to bring the man to court, but they understood that he was a man in need,” Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Kathleen Durkin said while presenting Detective Klingensmith and four of his colleagues Friday with an award for their service.

He, Sgt. Michael Scherbanic and Detectives Vincent Longo, Jay Stegena and Mark Zimmerman were among 14 officers recognized Friday at the annual Amen Corner Senator John Heinz Law Enforcement Awards Luncheon.

“It wasn’t expected,” Detective Klingensmith said of the award. When he and his colleagues learned that the man was having trouble paying his bills, they gave him money.

They appeared alongside him in court and explained his situation to the judge. In the months that followed, they persuaded local businesses to give gift cards to the family and to help with home repairs.
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Death of 19 Year Old Marine in Iraq "Non-combat Injury"

First US military death announced since Isis offensive started in Iraq
The first US service member has died in the third US-Iraq war, although not in combat, the Department of Defense says
The Guardian
October 24, 2014

Nearly three years after Barack Obama withdrew the US military from its bloody, exhausting second conflict in Iraq, the first US service member has died there in the third US-Iraq war.

Marine Lance Corporal Sean P Neal, one of 1,600 troops serving in Iraq to support the Iraqi struggle against Islamic State (Isis), died of a “non-combat” injury, the US announced late on Friday. Neal, of Riverside, California, died in Baghdad, more than 7600 miles from his home, on Thursday.

Neal, 19, was the first American acknowledged to have died in Operation Inherent Resolve, the US military’s new name for the war Obama launched on August 7. Americans have been dying in Iraq since 1991, some four years before Neal was born.

Technically, Neal may not have been the first US fatality of the Iraq-Syria war against the Islamic State. Naval forces assigned to US Central Command, which has operational control of the war, acknowledged on October 3 that a Marine, Corporal Jordan L. Spears, went missing at sea in the North Arabian Gulf after bailing out of his MV-22 Osprey. Spears took off from the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island, which carried Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, assigned to support the war in Iraq and Syria.
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Queens Police Officers Attacked by Terrorist with Hatchet

'Rookie cops' recovering after hatchet attack
CNN
By Shimon Prokupecz and Kevin Conlon
October 24, 2014

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
There's no indication the attack is tied to radical Islam, official says
Officials: New York police told to be on alert "against random attacks"
A man rushed four police officers in Queens, New York, police commissioner says
Two were hit; the two who weren't shot at the attacker, who was killed, commissioner says

New York (CNN) -- A New York City police officer remains in critical condition at a Queens hospital Friday, one day after suffering a hatchet wound to the head.

Officer Kenneth Healey and three on-duty colleagues were posing for a picture on the sidewalk Thursday afternoon when a hatchet-wielding man charged at them "unprovoked," according Police Commissioner Bill Bratton.

The suspect, identified as Zale H. Thompson, was hiding behind a bus shelter as if he was waiting to attack the officers, according to a law enforcement official, who said it almost appeared as if he were stalking them.

Healey, 28, was struck in the back of the head. Officer Joseph Meeker, 24, was struck in the arm. The remaining two officers fired at Thompson, killing him.

In the chaos, one of the officer's bullets struck a nearby pedestrian in her lower back. Bratton said she was recovering in surgery Thursday evening.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio praised the officers' swift response. "Here are four rookie cops, just starting out in their career, when the absolute unexpected happened," de Blasio said at a Thursday press conference. "They responded exactly as their training dictated and ended the situation -- thank God -- very, very quickly. "
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Central Alabama VA Healthcare System Director Removed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 24, 2014
Central Alabama VA Healthcare System Director Removed

Permanent Director Sought

Montgomery, AL – Today the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) formally removed the Director of the Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHCS) from federal service. This decision followed an investigation by the Office of Accountability Review (OAR) in which allegations of neglect of duty were substantiated.

This removal action underscores VA’s commitment to hold leaders accountable and get Veterans the care they need. OAR, which reports directly to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, assists VA facilities in accelerating leadership accountability actions and ensuring that such actions are applied consistently across the Department.

The Veterans Health Administration will begin recruiting a Director for CAVHCS. To ensure continuity of care for Veterans and leadership for VA employees during the recruitment period, Dr. Robin Jackson, Deputy Network Director, VISN 7, has been designated acting CAVHCS director.

Fake Navy SEAL Vietnam Veteran Arrested for Child Porn

Man arrested for child porn in San Antonio
Tyler Paper
Written by By KENNETH DEAN
23 October 2014

LINDALE — A man who has falsely claimed he was an elite Navy Seal and a veteran of the Vietnam War, and who last year clashed with police over his arrest for animal cruelty, has been arrested on much more serious charges by U.S. marshals — three felony counts of possession of child pornography.

Gaylord Stevens, also known as Steven Hawke, was arrested in San Antonio on Wednesday on the Smith County charges and was expected to be booked into the Smith County Jail late Thursday on the charges and with bonds totaling $300,000.

Stevens, 65, reported to media outlets last December that Lindale Police illegally seized his horse as he traveled across the country attempting to raise awareness for American history.

Stevens’ claims to have served as a Navy Seal in Vietnam were proven false.

A book titled “Stolen Valor” indicates Stevens actually served in the U.S. Coast Guard stateside from 1969 to 1972. He never went to Vietnam and never was a Navy Seal.

Craft said Stevens also was considered a con man who traveled the country collecting money from unsuspecting individuals and businesses for a Vietnam War museum.
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PTSD veteran shot by police recovering

Prosecutors: Man shot by Lakewood police had earlier run-in with officers
The News Tribune
BY ALEXIS KRELL
Staff writer
October 23, 2014

A man who Lakewood police shot and wounded last week had a run-in with officers two weeks earlier when he was subdued by a stun gun while wielding a knife according to charging papers.

In the most recent incident, Anthony Eric Chavez, 24, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to first-degree assault, theft of a firearm and unlawful carrying or handling of weapons apparently capable of producing bodily harm.

Court Commissioner Meagan Foley set his bail at $500,000.

An attorney for Chavez was not reachable for comment Thursday.

At the hospital, Chavez asked police to apologize for his actions to Lee. He said he took the gun from a friend’s apartment at the complex, and was trying to shoot himself as Lee arrived, but couldn’t get the gun to fire.

The mother of Chavez’s children told police he was hit by shrapnel while in the Army and suffered a traumatic brain injury and has post traumatic stress disorder. He started drinking heavily and taking illegal drugs after his injury, and refused his medications, she said.

She told police he had tried to kill himself multiple times.

The day he was shot, Chavez met with her, gave her his dog tags and wallet, and told her to give them to their son, the woman said.
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PTSD: Iowa National Guardsman Reminds Soldier Americans Care

Iowa soldier organizes a 23-mile march to remind veterans that people care
Omaha.com
By Steve Liewer
World-Herald staff writer
October 24, 2014

AMBER BAESLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
Iowa National Guard Staff Sgt. Patrick Osborn at his home in Council Bluffs. After hearing about a similar event in Minnesota, Osborn organized a 23-mile march from Council Bluffs to Omaha to bring attention to veterans who commit suicide and struggle with post-traumatic stress.

You might say Patrick Osborn wears his passion on his sleeve.

Wrapped around his arm, from triceps to wrist, is an American flag tattoo, emblazoned with the words “American soldier.”

The Iowa National Guardsman and Iraq War veteran from Council Bluffs will again show his commitment to soldiers when he leads more than 200 people on a 23-mile Ruck Up for Life through Council Bluffs and Omaha on Saturday. The 23 miles symbolizes the estimated 22 veterans who committed suicide, on average, each day in 2010 — according to a Department of Veterans Affairs report released last year — plus one representing the average number of active-duty suicides per day in recent years.

“It’s to help other veterans realize they’re not alone with their post-traumatic stress,” Osborn said.
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Fort Lewis-McChord soldier charged with murdering young wife

JBLM soldier charged with murder in wife’s death
The News Tribune
BY ADAM LYNN
Staff writer
October 22, 2014

Pierce County prosecutors contend a Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier shot and killed his 19-year-old wife last week because he was angry that another man had bought liquor for her.

On Wednesday, they charged Skylar Nemetz, 20, with first-degree murder in the Oct. 16 death of Tarrah Nemetz.

A not-guilty plea was entered on Nemetz’s behalf during his arraignment in Superior Court. Court Commissioner Meagan Foley ordered him jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.
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WWE Wrestler Kicks Soldier In Uniform Defending the Flag!

WWE: Rusev Kicks U.S. Army Soldier, Will Triple H Address The Real Upset Servicemen? [Video]
Posted in: Wrestling
Posted: October 22, 2014

When Rusev kicked the U.S. Army Soldier on Monday Night RAW the reaction from the American audience was about what you would expect. Now Triple H is claiming the WWE will deal with the matter internally as part of their kayfabe investigation into the incident. But for real American soldiers, that response is unlikely to be enough.

In a related report by The Inquisitr, you might be surprised to find out that real life Miroslav Barnyashev and Catherine Joy “C.J.” Perry are real Americans who act American in their personal lives – when they’re not acting as the fake Russians called Rusev and Lana.
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Austin Film Festival Terrible Love About PTSD Featured Today

Ultra5280.com

A veteran comes home from Iraq after suffering an injury to his eye. Rufus, played by Rufus Burns, brings back more than a physical injury to his family and wife Amy (Amy Urbina). As time goes by, the evidence of Rufus’ PTSD becomes clearer to Amy but is shrouded from those around the couple as they figure out how to battle this disorder and repair their marriage.

TERRIBLE LOVE is the debut feature from director Christopher Thomas and producer Luke Helmer. Following in the footsteps of Drake Doremus (LIKE CRAZY), the actors improvised their dialogue after heavy outlining and pre-production work. The grounded nature of this style gives it an immediacy and authenticity that is able to deliver an unflinching look at a devastating disorder.

Review from Splash Magazine Yenis Monterrey

"Find out what happens in this realistic story that many veterans deal with in real life. Director Christopher Thomas says his film was inspired by friends suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Don’t miss “Terrible Love” screening and find out the unveiling story behind this couple dealing with PTSD."

This is the movie I consulted on for 3 years with Christopher. I can tell you that there was a deep, emotional connection to this labor of love from everyone involved, especially from Christopher. He struggled to get it right, so right that even after knowing it from start to finish, when it was done, he blew me away by what he had accomplished!

Action! Austin Film Festival starts Thursday
By KXAN News
Published: October 23, 2014

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The 21st annual Austin Film Festival kicks off at the Paramount Theatre. Al Pacino’s “The Humbling” premieres, along with several others throughout the next few days. For one week, more than 180 films will be showing.

Austin Film Festival co-founder Barbara Morgan spoke about how the festival is more than film screenings. People who want to get a kick-start can help get their career going, and there are workshops incorporated into the festival.

Director Christopher Thomas has a film, “Terrible Love,” screening Thursday night. He says his film was inspired by friends suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. “Terrible Love” screens Thursday at 9:45 p.m.
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Strangers Step Up for PTSD Disabled Vietnam Veteran

Standoff between Vietnam veteran, repo man ends peacefully
Viewer trying to raise money to pay off loan
ABC 10 News
Steve Fiorina
Oct 22, 2014

SAN DIEGO - The Honda Ridgeline was ready for towing with wheels up on the bar, but the owner was inside the truck and refused to exit.

San Diego police were called to the address in Valencia Park. They talked to Dan Riley, who is visiting from Arizona.

"They said if I didn't get out, the owner of the company would have a citizen’s arrest done to me," said Riley.

"So you're expecting them to come and then what?" asked 10News reporter Steve Fiorina.

"Eventually, I guess I'll go to jail," Riley said.

He wasn't. Riley is a disabled Vietnam War veteran. He is also is behind on a $10,000 loan. The truck is on a repo list.

The tow company cruising the neighborhood got a hit on the license plate with its side-mounted cameras and tried to take possession. After several hours, the standoff ended. The police left and the tow truck was unhooked.
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Canadian Terrorist Attacks Prove Love Stronger Than Hate

What will it take for terrorists to understand they cannot defeat love? How dumb are they? How do they waste their days hating so much instead of enjoying the emotion of love, experiencing tenderness, along with everything else that makes life worth living?

Tributes to Canada Soldier as Shaken Parliament Returns to Work
NBC News

Sweet tribute: Pittsburgh NHL fans sing 'O Canada' after Ottawa shootings
While courage is required to serve in the military, even a bully has some sort of courage but his love is for himself alone. To risk your life serving your country, it requires courage but above that, it requires being selfless. It is love for those you serve with causing you to put your life on the line, knowingly risking everything for the sake of someone else. That is something terrorists will never understand and will never, ever be able to defeat.

They can claim they are doing it for "their people" but then they would not be killing their own or putting their lives on the line so they can kill off more of those they see as enemies. They can claim they are doing it for "religious" reasons but the truth is, they use it and hide behind it.

They do not seek better lives for their own families or anyone else. They thrive on hatred and anger, feeding off fear but even as they do cause some to be afraid, they never win. Even with your fear, even in your emotional pain, you still refuse to surrender to it.

Most of the time after PTSD has set in while deployed, you do not allow yourself to suffer or feel it. You keep going until all those you are with are out of danger. Then and only then do you focus on yourself. That requires love in the purest form. A love that seeks nothing for yourself.

These are horrible times but there have been horrible times before. Each time during the history of civilization, those horrible times only came to an end when good people stood up against bullies and terrorists and said they would not surrender, refusing to allow them to take away all that is good in life.

Marine Veteran Laid To Rest After Gun Range Suicide

Solemn ceremony for Marine vet
Friends honor Jeremy Sears, who 'never asked for help' before suicide
UT San Diego
By Jeanette Steele
OCT. 22, 2014

Tami Sears, center, watches as Marines fold a flag during a memorial for her husband, Marine Jeremy Sears during a memorial for him at Miramar National Cemetery. At left, his her mother, Kathy Clinnin. — K.C. Alfred / UT San Diego

It was a spare, solemn service for a tough Marine Corps veteran who rarely talked about himself.

Jeremy Sears’ friends spoke for him Wednesday at a Miramar National Cemetery ceremony, where uniformed Marines presented a folded American flag to Sears’ widow, Tami.

Sears – who did five combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before leaving the Marines in 2012 – killed himself Oct. 6 at an Oceanside gun range.

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Oceanside shooting range where veteran put the gun to his head

Congressional Candidate’s Veterans Health Care Plan Plagiarized

GOP Congressional Candidate’s Veterans Health Care Plan Plagiarized From Fox News Article
It’s an article about a proposed overhaul of VA health care.
Buzzfeed
posted on Oct. 21, 2014,

A Republican congressional candidate in Oregon appears to have plagiarized her plan for veterans from a Fox News article about proposed changes to the troubled Veterans Affairs health care.

Tootie Smith, a Republican running against Oregon Democrat Rep. Kurt Schrader in the state’s 5th Congressional veteran’s medical care plan uses nearly-identical language to a Fox News article from July on action taken by House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees.

The campaign for Smith, who currently serves as Clackamas County Commissioner, didn’t return emails or phone calls about the similar text.
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Fence Jumper at White House Captured

Man apprehended after jumping White House fence
The Associated Press
DARLENE SUPERVILLE
Oct 22nd 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) - A 23-year-old Maryland man was in the custody Wednesday night after he climbed over the White House fence and was swiftly apprehended on the North Lawn by uniformed Secret Service agents and their dogs.

The incident came about a month after a previous White House fence jumper sprinted across the same lawn, past armed uniformed agents and entered the mansion before he was felled in the ceremonial East Room and taken into custody.

That embarrassing Sept. 19 incident preceded the disclosure of other serious Secret Service breaches in security for President Barack Obama and ultimately led to Julia Pierson's resignation as director of the agency after 18 months on the job.

Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary said a man he identified as Dominic Adesanya of Bel Air, Maryland, climbed the north fence line at about 7:16 p.m. and was taken into custody immediately by uniformed agents and K-9 teams that constantly patrol the grounds. Adesanya was unarmed at the time of his arrest, Leary said. Charges were pending.

Two dogs were taken to a veterinarian for injuries sustained during the incident, Leary added.
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