Officials have released the identity of the suspect arrested after a vehicle plowed into the entrance gate of the FBI field office in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ervin Lee Bolling, a U.S. Navy veteran from South Carolina, is the sole suspect in the crash, which officials said occurred shortly after noon Monday. A spokesperson with Dekalb County Police told the Associated Press (AP) that Bolling faces a charge of interference with government property. A court filing reviewed by Newsweek also showed that the suspect was charged with a federal count of destroying government property.
The Context
FBI Atlanta told Newsweek in an email Monday that a person rammed their SUV into the headquarters' front gate and was taken into custody by Dekalb police. A video of the scene showed the car halted by a pop-up barrier at the entrance and tactical vehicles surrounding the area.
No injuries were reported in the crash, and the driver's vehicle was cleared by agents "as a precaution," FBI officials said. A spokesperson for Dekalb police previously told Newsweek that the incident was being handled by the bureau.
A clear motive has yet to be established.
What We Know
According to the criminal complaint, Bolling exited his vehicle after crashing into the headquarters' barriers and attempted to follow an FBI agent into the building's "secure parking lot by walking past the gate." Bolling also encountered two other agents as he tried to enter the premises, and was instructed by the officers to "sit on the curb" of the parking lot.
Bolling refused agents' instructions to stay seated and attempted to walk further into the lot, read the court filing, and the agents then began to take Bolling into custody, which he resisted.
Once in custody, agents found a passport in Bolling's pocket that was used to identify him. He was then transferred to the hospital for "medical care and evaluation."
A spokesperson with FBI Atlanta told Newsweek that Bolling was expected to appear for his first court appearance in Atlanta federal court sometime Wednesday afternoon.
What's Next?
An attorney to represent Bolling was not yet listed in online court records as of Wednesday evening. If convicted, given that the damage to federal property is valued higher than $1,000, he could face fines and up to 10 years in prison.
Update 04/03/24, 6:37 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and background.
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