A security review is underway after a man eluded troopers, broke into the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion and set a fire.
Security at the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion has come under scrutiny after authorities said a man was able to scale an iron fence, elude police and break into the residence to start a fire before fleeing the same way he came in.
Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police told reporters on Sunday that a review of security measures was already underway.
Newsweek has contacted the Pennsylvania State Police for comment via email.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said he, his family and guests who had celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover at the residence on Saturday were awakened by state troopers pounding on their doors around 2 a.m. on Sunday. They evacuated the building in Harrisburg, and firefighters put out the fire. No one was injured, but the fire caused significant damage.
On Sunday, authorities identified Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, as the man in custody in connection with the fire. He has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism and other offenses.
Authorities said Balmer was able to evade security for several minutes after scaling the fence and that he deployed homemade incendiary devices inside the residence before fleeing the property.
Balmer „came over a fence right behind where all of you are standing right now“, Bivens told reporters at a Sunday news conference.
