Mr. Gonzalez, of Copperas Cove, Tex., was not armed and was not carrying a bag or a backpack when officials spotted him jumping the fence on the Pennsylvania Avenue side, Mr. Donovan said. He ignored several calls for him to stop as officers gave chase.

No shots were fired and the White House guard dogs were not called out to stop him.

White House fence-jumpings are not unheard-of, but the intruders are almost always tackled on the North Lawn and almost never get near the White House itself. Mr. Donovan said the incident was being investigated and reviewed.