Story highlights The person climbed the fence on the south side of the White House complex

Charges are pending

Washington (CNN) A 54-year-old man carrying a suspicious package scaled a White House fence Sunday night, but was quickly apprehended.

Jerome R. Hunt, of Hayward, California, climbed the fence on the south side of the White House complex about 10:25 p.m., said Brian Leary with the United States Secret Service. According to a source with knowledge of the investigation, the man made it 10 to 15 feet in on the South Lawn but "was compliant" once he saw the dogs ready to engage with thim.

Hunt is in custody and charges are pending, Leary said.

The package was being examined and later deemed to be harmless, a Secret Service source told CNN.

Last week, a U.S. official told CNN that temporary steel spikes may be added to the tips of the White House perimeter fence to help deter jumpers.

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