Woman Who Rammed White House Barrier ‘To Meet Fiancee’ Unfit For Trial

A woman who attempted to drive her vehicle through a White House barricade was found unfit to stand trial by a judge Thursday, according to court documents.

Jessica Ford, 35, of La Vergne, Tennessee, underwent a 24-hour examination Thursday based on her “impaired rational understanding and ability to assist counsel,” following which United States Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather ordered her to undergo a full, 30-day psychiatric assessment, the Washington Post reported.

On Feb. 23, Ford attempted to drive her white Chevrolet van into a security barricade at least three times at 17th and E streets NW. Officials said she had an unloaded Daisy Powerline Model 340 BB gun with her at the time.

She was later arrested by Secret Service officers and charged with three felonies including an “act of physical violence against property in a restricted grounds using a deadly weapon, forcibly resisting and impeding federal officers using a weapon, and property damage in excess of $1,000,” Fox 5 reported.

When Ford was produced in the D.C. Superior Court on Feb. 24, she kept screaming “I want my kids back. I want my kids back.” During investigation, Ford allegedly told the officials that her husband, named James Burris, lived in the White House and she was going there to visit him. However, she told the judge President Donald Trump was her fiancee and was actually going there to meet him, WUSA reported.

“Ms. Ford is actually not a dangerous person. She wasn’t trying to hurt anyone,” said Gretchen Franklin, Ford’s Public Defender. “She feels that someone has her children and is not returning them to her.”

It was not the first instance when Ford tried to enter the White House. She was arrested three times last year when she tried to scale a fence at the White House in April, May and July. Following this, in September, a court sentenced her to a year's probation and ordered her to stay away from the White House complex.

The family members of the woman said she was not mentally stable and was in need of treatment.

"She is very delusional. She thinks her children are in the White House. That's why she keeps going up there," Victoria Walls, Fords' cousin, told CBS-affiliated NewsChannel 5.

Alice Wilson, Ford’s mother said her daughter tried to gain access to the White House thinking it was the holiday season.

"She decided when she left it was Christmas Eve, and I got to be there by Christmas Day. ‘I said you can't go do that. They will kill you,’" Wilson said.

Walls said the incident could have been prevented if she had gotten mental health treatment.

Speaking about Ford’s previous arrests, Walls said after each arrest "they take her in for 72 hours to a week and let her out."

"They know she has mental problems, but they don't give her help," she added.

A neighbor told Fox 5 that Ford has three children, including a baby.