Pittsburg, PA – Federal charges were filed this afternoon in connection with the intentional destruction of a security gate at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Pittsburgh Division headquarters, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
- Thomas Ross, 48, was charged with Damaging Government Property and Causing Damage to Buildings or Property within the Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States
- July 26, 2016, an officer spotted a large dump truck which was driving erratically and unsafely, and, in fact, drove past the officer, who was sitting at a red light, at a high rate of speed before proceeding to run through several more red lights. The officer then pulled the driver over
- The officer ordered Ross out of the vehicle, but Ross refused to get out. On the third command, Ross stated to the officer that he had a bomb and that he had to see the FBI
- At that point, Ross put the dump truck vehicle into gear, and proceeded to the front gate of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office
- Ross proceeded to ram the through the security barriers at a high rate of speed, causing the dump truck vehicle to go airborne while causing extensive damage to the vehicle
- The penalties could include a fine of up to $750,000, 35 years imprisonment
- A criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant may not be prosecuted unless, within 30 days, a grand jury has found probable cause to believe that he is guilty of an offense