A 24-year-old man was taken into custody after jumping a fence on the White House grounds last night, authorities said.

Uniformed U.S. Secret Service police were questioning the man after apprehending him about 8 p.m. on the south grounds, Secret Service spokesman Jim Mackin said.

"This happens from time to time. It has no connection with anything going on in the news," Mackin said, referring to yesterday's impeachment of President Clinton by the House of Representatives and to U.S. air strikes on Iraq.

He said the man, whose identity and address were not released, was not armed and may face criminal charges.

"That will be determined later," Mackin said.

The President and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton were at the White House at the time.