FBI Suspects Driver of Ramming a Government Worker in Laguna Niguel Federal Building Crash

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA A driver struck and seriously injured a government worker outside a federal building in Laguna Niguel today in what the FBI is investigating as a vehicle assault upon a federal employee.

Federal agencies responded in force with the Orange County Sheriff's Department bomb squad checking the building and surrounding area.

"Currently, there is no known threat to public safety as a result of today's incident," said aid FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.

The driver 45-year-old Geoffrey Rickner, of Laguna Niguel, was arrested by officers with the Federal Protective Service of the Department of Homeland Security, following the alleged assault, said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.

After hitting the pedestrian about 4:30 p.m. the Mercedes sedan came to rest against the Chet Holifield Federal Building in the 24000 block of Avila Road, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department and reports from the scene.

Federal Protective Service officers took the driver into custody and both he and the injured pedestrian, also a man, were taken to a hospital, according to Eimiller.

Eimiller said the suspect would be charged in connection with the assault, possibly as soon as Friday.

A sheriff's bomb squad was dispatched to assist federal authorities investigating the crash and no threat was found in the vehicle or the surrounding area, Eimiller said.

City News Service; Photo Wikimedia Commons