A woman was arrested at an opening checkpoint Saturday morning for impersonating a police officer and fleeing police, officials say.
Linda Magovern, 63, was arrested near Union Station after saying she was an officer and “part of the presidential cabinet” and presented a military police defiance coin, according to a police report from DC.
Download our NBC Washington app for iOS or Android to receive breaking news and weather alerts.
Magovern approached the opening perimeter at Columbus Circle and First Street NE with a vehicle around 8:45 a.m., according to police.
She “showed a round metal object later identified as a military police challenge coin,” the police report says. Medallions are used by law enforcement and members of the army to recognize achievements.
Police say Magovern said then that he was an officer and a member of the presidential cabinet.
An officer ordered Magovern to put the vehicle in the park and turn it off. He complied, but went ahead after an officer asked for his license.
Officers repeatedly ordered Magovern to stop the vehicle, but headed north through Columbus Circle, police said. She was arrested nearby, outside Union Station.
Magovern was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer, disobeying and fleeing a police officer. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer.
She was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Security is high in DC ahead of Wednesday’s opening day, with more than 15,000 current National Guard members in DC as of Sunday morning, NBC News reports.
A Virginia man was arrested Friday at an inauguration checkpoint after showing police an “government-issued” inauguration credential and officers found a weapon and hundreds of ammunition in his van. He said he got lost and forgot he had the gun with him.
Stay tuned to NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.