Man charged after allegedly intentionally ramming vehicle into FBI security gate in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH, Pa - A Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, man has been charged after allegedly intentionally crashing a vehicle into an FBI facility security gate early Wednesday morning.
According to a news release from the Department of Justice for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the incident happened at 2:40 a.m. on Wednesday, next to a manned security booth outside of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Pittsburgh Field Office.
Donald Henson, 46, was apprehended and arrested later that day.
Henson has been charged with forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating or interfering with a governmental officer or employee and damaging government property.
Henson is accused of ramming his vehicle into a security gate outside of the Pittsburgh Field Office, according to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint against him.
The affidavit continues that after the crash, Henson got out of the vehicle and walked to the driver's side rear door, where he retrieved an American flag that he then placed on the damaged gate.
Henson later left the area, with the incident being caught on FBI and several other businesses' security cameras.
According to the release, after Henson was arrested, he allegedly admitted to the FBI that he knew that there was a security guard in the security booth next to the gate at the time of the incident and was doing it to "make a statement."
The release states that penalties for assaulting, resisting or impeding a governmental officer or employee are up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both.
Additionally, the penalties for damaging government property or contracts are tied to the extent of the damage. If the damage exceeds $1,000, the defendant could be subject to up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both.
Under federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based on the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant, if any.
