Florida authorities arrested and charged a woman with trying to run over a Secret Service agent and then local police officers after she was stopped at a security checkpoint by President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
Palm Beach County court records show Alexa Rae Scharf, 29, was charged with aggravated assault with a vehicle, felony fleeing and resisting arrest in the Tuesday incident that started with the suspect’s bizarre behavior close to the president’s Florida home.
The court filing, obtained by WPEC-TV, said Ms. Scharf drove up to the checkpoint around 6:05 p.m. Tuesday. Authorities soon told her that the checkpoint was closed.
Ms. Scharf responded by getting out of her SUV and turning on a hose, the affidavit said. When an agent asked who she was, Ms. Scharf replied that she was “here for the car wash.”
The Secret Service agent tried to get photos of her license plate, but the documents said Ms. Scharf ignored commands to stop, but instead got back into her car and drove right at the agent.
The suspect then drove her car through the front gate of another property nearby, the filing said. Ms. Scharf quickly exited her vehicle and started pacing around the property.
Palm Beach police arrived at the scene moments later, and court papers said Ms. Scharf ignored law enforcement commands and got back into her still-running SUV.
She then drove right at a police captain and another officer as she tried to flee the area.
The suspect was stopped following a short pursuit when officers opened the driver’s side door and pulled her out.
Police told WPEC that a pit bull inside Ms. Scharf’s car jumped over the suspect and bit an officer when the door opened. Authorities said another officer shot and killed the dog.
At the initial court hearing in the case Thursday, a judge ordered a mental health evaluation of the suspect.
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