SOPRA-NO!
Opera singer, 30, arrested after cops open fire on SUV she smashed into Trump’s Mar-A-Lago resort ‘after dancing on car’
AN OPERA singer was arrested after smashing her car through two security checkpoints at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort on Friday, just hours before the president was due to arrive.
Secret Service agents opened fire on an SUV being driven by an "obviously impaired" Hannah Roemhild, 30, as it ploughed through barriers at the members club in Florida just after 11.30 am.
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Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw named the soprano singer from Connecticut as the woman who was taken into custody.
Florida Highway Patrol were called to reports of a woman "acting erratically" on top of a car "doing a dance" at about 11.38am local time outside The Breakers Palm Beach.
The opera singer jumped into her rental compact Jeep and as the patrol officer tried to get her attention by tapping on the driver's side window, she tried to reverse out.
The officer then smashed the window to grab the steering wheel to prevent the Connecticut woman from driving off, but was unsuccessful.
Sheriff Bradshaw said Roemhild was driving "in excess of 70mph" and "on the wrong side of the road" towards Mar-a-Lago.
He told reporters during a press conference: "We didn't know if it was someone with a car bomb, we didn't know if it was someone trying to hit as many pedestrians as possible."
"Luckily deputies and Secret Service agents were able to jump out of the way just in time."
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The sheriff confirmed officers and secret service agents opened fire on the vehicle, which then took off towards the motel she was staying at.
When asked why officers shot at the car Sheriff Bradshaw said: "We’re gonna fire when our lives are our danger, and there’s a danger to the public."
When police caught up with Roemhild at her motel a police officer tackled her as she tried to flee to her room.
Sheriff Bradshaw confirmed she is in custody and faces felony charges including assault on a federal officer, deadly assault on a police officer as well as a string of traffic violations.
Police believe Roemhild picked up a second woman on her way to the motel, who is currently in custody but is unlikely to face any charges.
No one was injured during today's security breach.
It is an ongoing joint investigation between Florida Highway Patrol, the FBI and Secret Service.
We’re gonna fire when our lives are our danger, and there’s a danger to the public.
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw
The sheriff said there have not determined a motive for Roemhild's actions, but also said they don't think she was targeting Mar-a-Lago.
Sheriff Bradshaw told reporters: "This is not a terrorist, this is someone who was impaired somehow.
“Someone who was driving very recklessly.”
Images from the scene show bullet holes in the passenger side of the front windshield of the vehicle.
The back windshield is also smashed as well the side windows, suggesting the officers shot at the vehicle as it kept driving.
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The checkpoint, which is a series of concrete barriers and armed officers, is blocks away from the actual resort.
Mr Trump and First Lady Melania are still travelling to Mar-a-Lago to spend the weekend in Palm Beach for the Super Bowl.
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The president has been briefed, said press secretary Stephanie Grisham.
She added there were currently no changes to his travel plans.
Earlier this month, a Florida man who had been dishonorably discharged from the Marines for sex offenses was arrested at Mar-a-Lago after he got past two checkpoints by falsely identifying himself as part of the presidents helicopter crew.
Secret Service give press conference after cops fire on woman in car that smashes through checkpoints at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida
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