why was president grant arrested

President Ulysses S. Grant was arrested in 1872 while serving as president for speeding in his horse-drawn carriage in Washington, D.C. He was stopped twice by Officer William H. West for going too fast, and on the second occasion, West placed Grant under arrest and took him to the police station. Grant paid a $20 bond (equivalent to about $520 in 2024) but did not appear in court, forfeiting the bond. Despite his arrest, Grant reportedly respected the officer for doing his duty and showed no resistance to the law. This event is notable as the only recorded instance of a sitting U.S. president being arrested, illustrating the principle of rule of law irrespective of status.