Deep River native shot at by police, arrested in Mar-a-Lago resort breach
A native of Deep River was arrested after police in Florida say the SUV she was driving barreled past security checkpoints at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort Friday, leading to a car and helicopter chase.
Police said no one was injured after law enforcement officials chased Hannah Roemhild through Palm Beach and shot at her vehicle. She is a soprano opera singer and currently lives in Middletown, according to her personal Facebook page. She was visiting Palm Beach, Fla., for a scheduled performance, according to her Instagram.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told the Associated Press on Friday that Roemhild would be charged with assault on a federal officer and deadly assault on two sheriff’s deputies, as well as traffic charges.
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">news conference in Palm Beach on Friday afternoon, Bradshaw said Roemhild's rented black SUV breached two security checkpoints, risking lives, a little after 11:30 a.m. at the main entrance of Trump's resort. "We didn't know if it was someone with a car bomb, we didn't know if it was someone trying to hit as many pedestrians as possible," Bradshaw said.
The Secret Service fired shots at Roemhild's vehicle before she raced off, engaging the Florida Highway Patrol and a sheriff's office helicopter in a pursuit through Palm Beach, where police said they temporarily lost her. Officers finally tackled and apprehended Roemhild after she parked her vehicle and allegedly tried to flee into a nearby motel room.
Investigators, according to an AP report, say the vehicle approached the Mar-A-Lago checkpoint at a "high rate of speed and did not appear to brake in any way." Bradshaw said during the news conference that before Roemhild approached the Mar-a-Lago resort, a Florida Highway Patrol officer approached her at the nearby Breakers Palm Beach resort, where she appeared to be dancing on top of her car. She went back into her car and would not respond when the officer tapped on the window, Bradshaw said.
The officer finally smashed through the window glass in an effort to stop Roemhild when it appeared she was preparing to drive the vehicle away, initiating a chase toward Mar-a-Lago. Roemhild appeared to be impaired, "whether it was the influence of drugs or alcohol, or just strange behavior, something wasn't right," according to Florida Highway Patrol Major Robert Chandler.
Trump was not at the resort at the time, although he was scheduled to arrive there later Friday, the AP reported. The president had been briefed, press secretary Stephanie Grisham said, and there were no changes to his travel plans. Trump usually plays golf in the mornings at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach and attends a Super Bowl watch party there for the big game, the AP reported.
A classically trained soprano opera singer, the 30-year-old Roemhild attended Western Connecticut State University, where she studied opera and graduated in 2011. She has since pursued an opera career, working in New York City, according to her LinkedIn profile, and she performed at the Chester Meeting House in 2013, as well as the Essex-based St. John's Episcopal Church for a recital, according to Day archives.
In November, Roemhild made her first appearance at the Hartford Opera Theater as part of its "New in November 10" opera festival.
Police are investigating the Mar-A-Lago incident, the AP reported.
Attempts to reach Roemhild's parents, who still live in Deep River, for comment were unsuccessful.
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