IRS Building in Laguna Niguel Evacuated Again

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA An evacuation of the IRS building in Laguna Niguel has been cleared after the Orange County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad investigated a report of a suspicious package.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Mark Stichter, a suspicious package sent to the Chet Holifield Federal Building mail room turned out to be routine, and employees were allowed to return to the building. A person reported the suspicious package to authorities shortly after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, prompting the investigation.

The mail turned out to be from an employee mailing himself a package because he was moving offices, said Stichter.

It’s been a rough two months for the federal building. On March 12, it was evacuated and a hazmat team was called in to investigate a suspicious piece of mail that turned out to be routine correspondence.

A week earlier, a 45-year-old man allegedly used his car to hit and seriously injure a federal employee outside the building.

Geoffrey Rickner of Laguna Niguel was arrested shortly after 4:30 p.m. March 3. His car also hit the south parking maintenance garage, ending up lodged into the building, according to the FBI.

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