Drunk man allegedly jumps fence of National Counterterrorism Centre after mistaking it for hotel

‘I was just looking for help,’ says Jatinder Singh

A drunk man allegedly hopped over a fence at the National Counterterrorism Centre after mistaking the facility for a hotel.

Jatinder Singh, 28, was caught on the property of the Virginia-based counterterrorism centre in the early hours of 14 March, according to a probable cause statement obtained by NBC4 Washington.

Mr Singh was discovered when he entered the McLean complex at around 5am and tried to book a hotel room for the night, offering staff members a credit card and a New York driver’s license bearing his name.

“Defendant responded that he was there to rent a room,” the authorities claimed in the court documents released this week.

After responding officers arrived at the centre, they discovered that Mr Singh was also in possession of another man’s wallet, containing credit and identification cards.

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After having his Miranda rights read out to him, Mr Singh then explained to the police that he works with the person who owns the wallet, according to officers.

The 28-year-old, who the authorities claimed was “noticeably unsteady on his feet and exhibited slurred speech,” later told police that he had spent the night drinking tequila nearby and was “only there seeking a meal and a place to stay.”

Mr Singh was charged with trespassing and was booked into the Alexandria Detention Centre. He was released from federal custody a day later and is due in court on 27 May.

The centre, which was set up after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, is part of the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), with staff members at the Virginia complex responsible for national and international counterterrorism efforts.

Mr Singh told the New York Post on Thursday that he did not know he was trespassing on “federal property” when he hopped the fence, adding: “I was just looking for help. I just see the building with the lights.”