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 . If done , this will be a temporary measure to protect the grounds until a new permanent one is constructed . The official said that the proposal is not in place yet . The Secret Service has come under heavy criticism after two incidents compromised the security of the grounds . On March 4 , two senior Secret Service agents who were reportedly intoxicated allegedly drove their car into a White House barrier . Last September , a man jumped the White House fence and made it to an unlocked door on the grounds . Asked about the White House fence jumper , House Oversight Committee chairman Jason Chaffetz told CNN , `` Prevention and swift apprehension is the goal . I appreciate those who dealt with the situation , but I want to learn more . '' CNN 's Michelle Kosinski , Jim Acosta and Chris Frates contributed to this report .
The person climbed the fence on the south side of the White House complex . Charges are pending .