connecticut yankee
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2017
There is only one known record of a sitting US President being arrested. In 1872, former Union soldier Henry H. West, then a police officer in Washington, D.C. arrested United States President Ulysses S. Grant...
Born in 1842 in Prince George's County, Maryland, in his youth West was enslaved. He later fought in the Civil War in Company K, 30th United States Colored Infantry. The regiment was formed in May 1863, and later fought in the Battle of the Crater. West was one of two black policeman working for the Washington DC Police Department during Reconstruction. He was later remembered as "gentlemanly" and fond of good horses, especially fast ones. He married Katherine 'Kate' Bowie in Washington, D.C. in June 1867, with whom he had six children. Henry West retired from the police department in 1901 and died in 1915. He is buried in Columbian Harmony Cemetery (Defunct) in Washington D.C.
West was appointed to the Metropolitan police force on August 1, 1871. In one version of various stories relating to West and Grant, in 1872 West was patrolling on foot near 13th and M Streets in Washington DC, when he stopped the President for speeding in his horse and buggy and released him with a warning for excessive speed. The next day, West observed Grant repeating the behavior, and arrested him.
"I am very sorry. Mr. President, to have to do it, for you are the chief of the nation and I am nothing but a policeman, but duty is duty, sir, and I will have to place you under arrest."
Grant was taken to the police station and released on a $20 bond (equivalent to $430 in 2019). Grant did not contest the fine or arrest.
Another version of the story says Police Officer West caught now President U.S. Grant speeding westbound on M. Street between 11th and 12th. Grant's buggy dragged the officer who was holding the bridle some 50 feet; West didn't realize the racing buggy and horse belonged to The President, until they all came to a stop. Story goes that in the MPDC office, Officer West started to apologize and Grant told the officer; "Do your duty!" Officer West then impounded his horse and buggy and arrested Grant. However at the Precinct there was much confusion as the police realized there were no rules or regulations concerning a President arrested for speeding. As a result, Grant wasn't formally booked or charged but he was given a $20.00 fine and his horse and buggy remained impounded. Grant walked back on foot to the Executive Mansion.
Ironically, this was not the first time Grant was arrested in Washington D.C. General Grant was arrested twice previously for speeding---April 11 and July 1, 1866, when he was still the 'Commander of the Army" He was fined $5.00 each time in Precinct Court (Present day building of D.C. Court of Appeals and then Metropolitan Police Headquarters, jail, court and city hall).
References:
"D.C. police once arrested a U.S. president for speeding". WTOP. October 6, 2012. Rosenwald, Michael S.
"The police officer who arrested a president". The Washington Post.
"Which President Got a Speeding Ticket While Riding a Horse?". Ghosts of DC. March 4, 2014.
"The Thin Blue Line". U.S. Grant Cottage State Historic Site.
"The police officer who arrested a US President – could it happen again?". The Sydney Morning Herald.
Find-A-Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107912228/william-henry-west
The Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. 1861 to 2011; 150th Anniversary Edition; page 17--Officers (active/retired) advanced edition and limited product.
Born in 1842 in Prince George's County, Maryland, in his youth West was enslaved. He later fought in the Civil War in Company K, 30th United States Colored Infantry. The regiment was formed in May 1863, and later fought in the Battle of the Crater. West was one of two black policeman working for the Washington DC Police Department during Reconstruction. He was later remembered as "gentlemanly" and fond of good horses, especially fast ones. He married Katherine 'Kate' Bowie in Washington, D.C. in June 1867, with whom he had six children. Henry West retired from the police department in 1901 and died in 1915. He is buried in Columbian Harmony Cemetery (Defunct) in Washington D.C.
West was appointed to the Metropolitan police force on August 1, 1871. In one version of various stories relating to West and Grant, in 1872 West was patrolling on foot near 13th and M Streets in Washington DC, when he stopped the President for speeding in his horse and buggy and released him with a warning for excessive speed. The next day, West observed Grant repeating the behavior, and arrested him.
"I am very sorry. Mr. President, to have to do it, for you are the chief of the nation and I am nothing but a policeman, but duty is duty, sir, and I will have to place you under arrest."
Grant was taken to the police station and released on a $20 bond (equivalent to $430 in 2019). Grant did not contest the fine or arrest.
Another version of the story says Police Officer West caught now President U.S. Grant speeding westbound on M. Street between 11th and 12th. Grant's buggy dragged the officer who was holding the bridle some 50 feet; West didn't realize the racing buggy and horse belonged to The President, until they all came to a stop. Story goes that in the MPDC office, Officer West started to apologize and Grant told the officer; "Do your duty!" Officer West then impounded his horse and buggy and arrested Grant. However at the Precinct there was much confusion as the police realized there were no rules or regulations concerning a President arrested for speeding. As a result, Grant wasn't formally booked or charged but he was given a $20.00 fine and his horse and buggy remained impounded. Grant walked back on foot to the Executive Mansion.
Ironically, this was not the first time Grant was arrested in Washington D.C. General Grant was arrested twice previously for speeding---April 11 and July 1, 1866, when he was still the 'Commander of the Army" He was fined $5.00 each time in Precinct Court (Present day building of D.C. Court of Appeals and then Metropolitan Police Headquarters, jail, court and city hall).
References:
"D.C. police once arrested a U.S. president for speeding". WTOP. October 6, 2012. Rosenwald, Michael S.
"The police officer who arrested a president". The Washington Post.
"Which President Got a Speeding Ticket While Riding a Horse?". Ghosts of DC. March 4, 2014.
"The Thin Blue Line". U.S. Grant Cottage State Historic Site.
"The police officer who arrested a US President – could it happen again?". The Sydney Morning Herald.
Find-A-Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107912228/william-henry-west
The Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. 1861 to 2011; 150th Anniversary Edition; page 17--Officers (active/retired) advanced edition and limited product.