Man claims he ‘dropped explosives’ near White House

Suspect was taken into custody, authorities said, and the area was checked

A man in Washington has been charged with making threats about committing a crime after he told a secret service agent that he had "dropped explosives" near the northern side-wall of the White House.

The man was identified as Ervin Pettaway, a 33 year-old, who talked to an officer near the White House at around nine in the morning about putting explosives there.



The area was combed for explosives and the suspect was taken into custody, authorities familiar with the matter said.

A cellphone, which the suspect had left near the site of the incident, was also found later.

The streets around the presidential residence were closed and the place was placed under a brief lock down which was lifted an hour later.



Pettaway faces one count of felony threats, the US Secret Service said.

This article originally appeared in the Washington Post