By Elissa Silverman and Martin Weil
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, October 6, 2008

An officer in the uniformed division of the Secret Service was injured yesterday in a scuffle with an apparent intruder at the edge of the White House complex, a Secret Service spokesman said.

An unarmed man, identified as a 37-year-old Prince George's County resident, was taken into custody, and he and the officer were taken to the hospital for treatment of what appeared to be minor injuries, according to the Secret Service.

No formal charge could be learned as of last night.

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said the officer was one of two who were approached by the man about 5:30 p.m. near a guard booth at 17th and E streets NW. A physical confrontation quickly broke out.

The spokesman said he understood that the man was trying to get into the booth.

The security post is on the southwestern edge of the White House area, several hundred yards from the Executive Mansion. It is across the street from the Corcoran Gallery of Art, near a busy intersection.

A sign near the booth declares the area restricted and warns against entry.

It was not clear what brought the man to the White House area.

President Bush was not at the White House at the time.

Donovan said he was traveling in Texas.