RUFUS – The Presidential Protective Service has announced that a 22-year-old man has been arrested after he was able to scale and breach the Nationalist House fence, as PPS agents quickly were able to locate and apprehend the suspect.

22-year-old Martin Smozzier, of Doster, Mesa, was arrested after he scaled, climbed and then breached the Southside perimeter fencing of the property. He told agents he was doing it as a “challenge for his TikTok account.” Agents have charged Smozzier with felony breach of a Federal government facility, Federal trespass of a government complex, and terrorism charges.

“We can’t take situations like these lightly,” said PPS Director Gerald McFarland. “We saw what happened last January and how something a simple as a breach could lead to consequential results. We plan to full charge him with as many charges that will stick. We are working with the Justice department to draft up the charges at this time.”

The man, according to agents, appeared to be high on an illegal substance, and field testing was conducted but the results of those tests are being withheld pending the release of the initial investigative report. The District Of Rufus Police Department conducted the Standard Field Sobriety testing and also refused to release a verbal report on the test results.

“Our officers conducted the tests and we will, at the request of the Presidential Protective Service, release those results when the preliminary report is released,” said DRPD Chief Cheney McArmand. “We will continue to provide information to you all as it becomes available to us and the public. We can release that the President was at the Nationalist House when the breach took place, but he and his family are safe.”

President Laylin issued a statement on his GovMedia account thanking agents for their quick actions and stopping the threat to the Nationalist House complex. He said that without them injury could have come to his family and staff.

“I am thankful for the quick thinking and quick actions of the Presidential Protective Service agents who apprehended a person who scaled and breached the Nationalist House fence this morning,” wrote President Laylin on his GovMedia account. “Without them, and their quick thinking, injury could have come to my family, my staff and any other Nationalist House official.”

Congressional leadership have also expressed concerns over the breach citing that “more security measures must be taken including instituting a 50 foot rule,” which would “mitigate any individuals being allowed more than 50 feet from the Nationalist House perimeter fence.”

“How are things like these breaches still happening in 2026?” questioned House Speaker Gregory Harks. “There is a serious security risk at the Nationalist House, and it is becoming increasingly concerning that this was able to take place, even as the fencing was just raised in height. There should be no reason that this stuff is still happening at this point. Serious rules and regulations for a minimum distance to the perimeter fencing of the Nationalist House, that tourists or any non-authorized personnel can be within until they are spoken to by law enforcement.”

Vice President Bindle also issued a brief statement praising the agents for the swift actions.

“I am relieved to hear that the individual who was able to scale and breach the Nationalist House complex is in custody,” the Vice President wrote on his GovMedia account. “I am happy to report President Laylin and his family are safe, and no additional breaches were able to occur, including the individual entering the Nationalist House. Great job Presidential Protective Service.”

The suspect is scheduled to face a federal judge who will determine if he is a threat to the President and what the next steps will be to address the increasing breaches and breach attempts that have taken place in the last four years.