- Robert Latta (White House intruder)
Robert Allen Latta"Clarity, James F., and Warren Weaver Jr. " [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CEFDC133BF932A05752C0A963948260&sec=&spon= Briefing: Disavowal of Intruder] ." "New York Times" 31 January 1985.] was a
water meter reader known for being a White House intruder." [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,960307,00.html?iid=chix-sphere Waltzing In] ." "Time" 11 February 1985.] " [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00EFDC133BF932A05752C0A963948260 White House Intruder Is Said To Have Been Mental Patient] ." "New York Times" 31 January 1985.]Latta, of
Denver, Colorado , holds amaster's degree inmechanical engineering but worked as awater meter reader for the Denver water department, where he held the Denver meter-reading record of 600 readings in a single day."Time" magazine quoted his supervisor as saying "He is a phenomenon of accuracy and speed."While on
vacation inWashington D.C. on January 20, 1985 (the day that PresidentRonald Reagan was sworn-in for his second term) the 45-year-old Latta gained access to theWhite House by following the 33 members of theMarine Band past security. While carrying an overnight bag, he was able to wander around theExecutive Residence for 14 minutes, but was eventually discovered near theBlue Room and was apprehended by Secret Service agents, who noticed that he had neither a uniform nor an instrument.Greene, David L. " [http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/01-05/01-19-05/a02wn385.htm Expect the unexpected at inaugurals] ." "Baltimore Sun". New York Times" 19 January 2005.] Latta was quoted as saying "I thought if I wasn't supposed to be there, somebody would stop me."" [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E3DE133BF933A05752C0A963948260 Quotation of the Day] ." "New York Times" 30 January 1985.] and that "I just wanted to see the ceremony...I'm kind of patriotic."Secret Service agents brought in dogs to search for
explosive s and interrogated Latta outside the White House. Later Latta was turned over to DC Police and charged with amisdemeanor count of unlawful entry. Latta was jailed for five days and interviewed by court-appointedpsychiatrist Dr. Norman L. Wilson, who discovered that Latta had voluntarily committed himself to apsychiatric hospital in June 1984 and heard voices saying, "You blew it," according to documents filed in theDistrict of Columbia Superior Court . Latta was committed toSt. Elizabeths Hospital ." [http://newspapers.umsystem.edu/default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?BaseHRef=CMN/1985/01/30&EntityId=Ar02005&Skin=Google&ViewMode=GIF Security lapse lets intruder in White House] ." UPI 30 January 1981.]Wilson recommended further psychiatric study of Latta and a hearing commissioner on January 21 ordered Latta to undergo
mental evaluation , but that order was not received by city psychiatrists until three days later, several hours after he had posted bond on $1,000bail . Latta was quoted as saying the intrusion was "a mistake" but also "the high point of being in Washington" and that "I just wanted to see how far I could get."" [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E2DB1739F930A35751C0A963948260 Headliners: The Man Who Slipped By] ." "New York Times" 3 February 1985.] The unlawful entry had a maximum penalty of six months in jail, but because it was only a misdemeanor, D.C. prosecutors could not extradite him fromColorado if he did not return voluntarily.Latta was arrested May 7, 1985, after he failed to show up for a court appearance in D.C. but was released on personal recognizance after
Magistrate Judge Donald E. Abram of theUnited States District Court for the District of Colorado set a hearing on whether he should be returned to D.C. to face charges." [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE3DD143BF934A35756C0A963948260 White House Intruder Freed] ." Associated Press 7 May 1985.]References
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