A South Florida woman was arrested for “intentionally” crashing her vehicle into a federal courthouse in West Palm Beach, officials said Thursday.
Lanesa Stubbs, 55, drove into the front entrance of the Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday, according to Rachel Leitão, a spokesperson for the West Palm Beach Police Department.
The crash reportedly damaged the building’s front doors, security equipment and interior furnishings, leading to a price tag of about $200,000, police said.
Stubbs fled the scene but was arrested without incident a short time later.
“Our officers, working alongside our federal partners, responded swiftly and were able to quickly identify and locate the suspect,” said West Palm Beach Chief of Police Tony Araujo.
She was charged with felony criminal mischief causing damage over $1,000.
“We take incidents of this nature very seriously. Acts of violence and property destruction will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Araujo said, without speculating on a motive for the crash.
Surveillance video shows the suspect parking a red Chevrolet SUV outside the building late Wednesday night, walking to the entrance, then returning to her vehicle before driving onto the property. According to investigators, she drove around planters blocking traffic before backing into the building’s lobby, local CBS affiliate WPEC reported.
Stubbs made her first appearance in court Friday morning and is being held on a $150,000 bond, online records show. She is expected back in court Feb. 14.
