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Washington Governor's Mansion Perimeter Breached Twice Since 2013

The perimeter around the Washington governor's mansion has been breached by trespassers twice since 2013.
Austin Jenkins
/
Northwest News Network
The perimeter around the Washington governor's mansion has been breached by trespassers twice since 2013.

The perimeter surrounding Washington’s governor’s mansion has been breached twice by trespassers since 2013. The incidents were not publicized at the time.

The first security breach happened in August of 2013. According to the governor’s office, it was approximately 2 a.m. when a man with warrants out for his arrest jumped the wrought iron fence. He was found by Washington State Patrol cadets who guard the mansion grounds. They quickly handcuffed him. The man said he was being chased and he appeared to be on drugs. Governor Jay Inslee and his wife were not home at the time.

The second incident happened on a Sunday night this past January, also when the Inslees were elsewhere. According to the prosecutor in that case, a man entered near the front gate to the mansion. He was immediately confronted by two State Patrol cadets. The man told the cadets he was trying to get to downtown Olympia. He too was arrested.

In both cases the men were charged with misdemeanor trespass. A spokesman for Inslee said despite these breaches the governor and first lady feel “well taken care of by the State Patrol.” He added that security changes were made after each event.

Copyright 2015 Northwest News Network

Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy as well as the Washington State legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia." Prior to joining the Northwest News Network, Austin worked as a television reporter in Seattle, Portland and Boise. Austin is a graduate of Garfield High School in Seattle and Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. Austin’s reporting has been recognized with awards from the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Austin Jenkins
Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy, as well as the Washington State Legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia."