Who Is Alexa Rae Scharf? Mar-a-Lago Checkpoint Arrest Explained

Alexa Rae Scharf is a 29-year-old Florida woman who was arrested after police say she entered a closed U.S. Secret Service security checkpoint near President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, drove toward law enforcement officers while fleeing, and later became involved in a standoff several blocks away. Scharf faces charges including two counts of aggravated assault with a vehicle, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer without violence. During her arrest, police shot Scharf’s pit bull after authorities say the dog attacked and bit an officer. The dog later died. The charges against Scharf are allegations and have not been proven in court.

Alexa Rae Scharf Arrest

Scharf Was Arrested On August 25, 2026. Scharf, who authorities identified as a resident of Loxahatchee, Florida, was taken into custody following an incident involving the Secret Service, Palm Beach Police Department and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office near Mar-a-Lago. [People]

The Incident Began At A Closed Secret Service Checkpoint. According to a Palm Beach Police Department report, a Secret Service agent was stationed at a closed security checkpoint near South Ocean Boulevard at approximately 6:05 p.m. when Scharf allegedly drove a gray Hyundai SUV into the checkpoint area. [WPBF]

“I’m Here For A Car Wash”

Police Say Scharf Got Out Of Her SUV And Turned On A Hose. According to the arrest report, Scharf parked near the security-screening area, exited her vehicle and walked over to a hose and sprinkler system before turning on the water. [WPBF]

Scharf Allegedly Told A Secret Service Agent She Was There For A Car Wash. When the agent approached Scharf and asked who she was, she allegedly responded, “I’m here for a car wash.” [People]

The Agent Attempted To Determine Whether Scharf Was Authorized To Be At The Checkpoint. Police said the Secret Service agent photographed the Hyundai’s license plate so the information could be sent to other law enforcement officers. [WPBF]

Alleged Attempt To Drive Toward Secret Service Agent

Scharf Allegedly Ignored An Order To Stop. Police say Scharf returned to her Hyundai and began driving away despite the Secret Service agent ordering her to stop. [People]

Police Say Scharf Drove Toward The Secret Service Agent. The arrest report alleges Scharf turned the SUV toward the agent and drove forward, forcing him to move out of the vehicle’s path to avoid being struck. [WPBF]

Gate Damaged At Nearby Palm Beach Property

Scharf Allegedly Drove To A Nearby Oceanfront Property. After leaving the checkpoint, authorities tracked the Hyundai to the driveway of a residence at 1236 South Ocean Boulevard. [WPBF]

A Gate At The Property Was Found Knocked Down And Damaged. The Secret Service agent who followed Scharf reportedly observed that the property’s entrance gate had been knocked down and sustained visible damage. [People]

Officers Found Scharf Farther Up The Driveway. Law enforcement officers, including Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies, Palm Beach police and Secret Service personnel, moved onto the property after Scharf was spotted there. [WPBF]

Scharf Allegedly Drives Toward More Officers

Police Say Scharf Refused Orders To Exit The Hyundai. Officers approached with their firearms drawn and ordered Scharf to get out of the running vehicle, but the arrest report alleges she refused. [WPBF]

A Palm Beach Police Captain Allegedly Had To Jump Out Of The Vehicle’s Path. Police say Scharf began driving the Hyundai near officers while attempting to escape, forcing a Palm Beach Police captain to move to avoid being struck. [WPBF]

Another Officer Also Allegedly Had To Avoid The SUV. According to the arrest report, a second Palm Beach officer ordered Scharf to stop and then had to move out of her path as she continued driving. [People]

Scharf Allegedly Maneuvered Between Police Vehicles And Escaped Back Onto South Ocean Boulevard. Police said she drove through a group of marked law enforcement vehicles and headed south, prompting officers to pursue her for several blocks. [WPBF]

Standoff And Arrest

Scharf Eventually Stopped At Another Driveway. Police say she pulled into the driveway of a property at 1500 South Ocean Boulevard, where officers again ordered her to exit her vehicle. [WPBF]

Police Say Scharf Continued To Refuse To Get Out. Officers repeatedly ordered her to leave the running Hyundai but said she did not comply. [People]

Officers Broke Windows On The SUV During The Arrest. According to reports citing the arrest affidavit, police broke the vehicle’s rear windshield and a rear driver’s-side window before officers were ultimately able to remove Scharf through the driver’s door. [People]

Alexa Scharf’s Dog Shot By Police

A Pit Bull Was Inside Scharf’s SUV. Palm Beach police said Scharf’s dog was the other occupant of the Hyundai during the confrontation. [People]

Police Say The Dog Charged Officers And Bit One Of Them. When officers opened the vehicle during Scharf’s arrest, authorities say the pit bull came out, charged toward officers and bit one officer. [WPBF]

An Officer Shot The Dog Twice. Police said another officer fired two shots at the dog following the bite. Animal-control personnel and a veterinarian attempted to treat the animal. [People]

The Dog Died From Its Injuries. Authorities subsequently confirmed that the pit bull did not survive. [WPBF]

Alexa Rae Scharf Charges

Scharf Faces Two Counts Of Aggravated Assault With A Vehicle. The counts stem from allegations that Scharf drove the Hyundai toward law enforcement officers who had to move to avoid being struck. [WPBF]

Scharf Is Also Accused Of Fleeing And Eluding Police. Police allege she ignored orders to stop and drove away from officers while law enforcement vehicles pursued her on South Ocean Boulevard. [People]

She Also Faces A Resisting-An-Officer Charge. The arrest affidavit cited in news reports lists resisting an officer without violence among the charges arising from the confrontation. [People]

Palm Beach County Jail Records Confirmed Scharf’s Booking. Public booking information lists Alexa Rae Scharf as having been booked into Palm Beach County custody following the August 25 incident. [Palm Beach County Arrest Records]

Donald Trump Was Not At Mar-a-Lago

President Trump Was Not At Mar-a-Lago During The Incident. Palm Beach police confirmed that Trump was not at his Palm Beach property while the confrontation unfolded. [WPBF]

Authorities Have Not Publicly Identified A Political Motive. Despite the incident’s proximity to Mar-a-Lago and involvement of the Secret Service, publicly released information has not established that Scharf was attempting to reach Trump or acting for a political reason. Her alleged statement to the agent was that she was at the checkpoint for a “car wash.” [People]

South Ocean Boulevard Closed During Police Response

The Police Response Shut Down A Portion Of South Ocean Boulevard. Authorities closed the road near Mar-a-Lago while officers dealt with the pursuit and standoff. The closure lasted for several hours before the roadway reopened later that evening. [WPBF]

Case Status

Scharf Remained In Jail The Day After Her Arrest. WPBF reported on August 26 that Scharf remained in the Palm Beach County jail following her arrest. [WPBF]

The Criminal Charges Remain Allegations. As of August 27, 2026, publicly available reporting shows Scharf has been arrested and accused of multiple offenses stemming from the incident, but there has been no reported conviction or final disposition.