Stratford Woman Arrested By Capitol Police In Washington

WASHINGTON, DC — A Stratford woman was arrested Saturday in Washington, D.C., near a security checkpoint for the upcoming inauguration and accused of impersonating a law enforcement officer and claiming to be a member of the presidential Cabinet.

Linda MaGovern, 63, is charged with impersonating an officer, fleeing law enforcement and failure to obey, police said.

At 8:45 a.m., MaGovern approached the presidential inauguration perimeter at First Street and Columbus Circle Northeast near the U.S. Capitol, according to a report from D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department. MaGovern displayed a Military Police Challenge Coin — a medallion given to officers for outstanding achievement — and said she was a law enforcement officer and part of the presidential Cabinet, police said.

MaGovern was repeatedly told to put her vehicle in park, and did so, according to police. When law enforcement asked for her driver’s license, she fled north on Columbus Circle Northeast, but only got a short distance before being stopped on Massachusetts Avenue outside Union Station, police said.

MaGovern was arrested and taken to get a psychiatric evaluation, police said. She was processed at Capitol Police Headquarters and transported to D.C. Central Cell Block, police said.

When reached Sunday, MaGovern’s husband, Keith MaGovern, said he did not think Linda MaGovern had hired an attorney.