Suspect who destroyed Secret Service vehicle and broke into JD Vance’s home has been caught, but JD Vance is mad at the media

An individual is now in custody after allegedly attempting to break into the Cincinnati home of Vice President JD Vance early on Monday morning, damaging the property and a Secret Service vehicle in the process. The Secret Service confirmed that an adult male was arrested shortly after midnight on January 5, 2026. The suspect was reportedly carrying a hammer and used it to smash windows at the residence, which is located in Cincinnati’s East Walnut Hills neighborhood and overlooks the Ohio River.

Agents assigned to the house heard a loud noise around midnight and discovered the person trying to gain entry. Before attempting to break into the house itself, the man apparently vandalized a Secret Service vehicle parked on the driveway. Officials noted that the damage to the residence included breaking at least four panes of glass on a ground-floor window, per WLWT.

Luckily, Vice President Vance was not home when the incident occurred. He had spent the previous week at the Cincinnati residence but traveled back to Washington DC on Sunday afternoon. Even though Vance wasn’t there, it doesn’t make the situation any less scary for his family. You have to imagine the stress this puts on anyone serving in public office.

The suspect allegedly managed to damage a secret service car without being caught

Vance quickly took to social media to thank the agencies that responded, referring to the suspect as a “crazy person” in his statement. “I appreciate everyone’s well wishes about the attack at our home. As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows. I’m grateful to the secret service and the Cincinnati police for responding quickly,” Vance wrote in a post.

However, Vance quickly pivoted from gratitude to frustration, specifically calling out how the incident was covered. He voiced strong criticism regarding reports that published images of his home showing the broken windows. The suspect spoke English, so I’m sure that made JD Vance feel good based on his previous words on that subject.

“One request to the media: we try to protect our kids as much as possible from the realities of this life of public service. In that light, I am skeptical of the news value of plastering images of our home with holes in the windows,” Vance stated. Vance himself claims to have grown up in hardship, so seeing a home almost broken into but stopped because you have some of the best security in the world may not be as bad as his own childhood claims.

It’s completely understandable why he’d feel that way. While we all want information, having images of your private residence, damaged and violated, plastered everywhere has to feel like a massive breach of safety, especially when you’re trying to shield your children from the dangers inherent in public life.

As a high-ranking official, Vance receives round-the-clock protection from the Secret Service. However, the exact level of security maintained at his private residence often adjusts based on whether he is physically present or traveling.

This attack serves as a stark reminder of the escalating risks facing elected officials across the country. We’ve seen several high-profile incidents recently that highlight how vulnerable politicians and their families are. Just last year, Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in an attack at their Minneapolis home, and another Democratic lawmaker and his wife were attacked in the same city that same night.

And, of course, many people remember the horrific attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of the Democratic former House speaker, who was assaulted with a hammer at their California residence in October 2024. The man responsible for that crime was later sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Given this alarming context, it’s clear why the Secret Service and local law enforcement reacted so swiftly. A spokesperson for the Secret Service, Anthony Guglielmi, confirmed that they are now coordinating with the Cincinnati Police Department and the US Attorney’s Office. They’re currently reviewing the case to determine the specific charges that will be filed against the adult male who is in custody.