LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A pickup truck ran into the Louisville Metro Corrections building Tuesday, forcing the closure of several surrounding streets and the evacuation of part of the corrections facility.
The crash was reported at 12:20 p.m., and according to a spokesman for Louisville Metro Corrections, only the driver was in the truck and he was arrested. No one was injured.
The truck driver has been identified as 41-year-old Michael Perez. Perez is charged with wanton endangerment and criminal mischief.
Streets near the building remained closed until just after 4 p.m. An inspection of the building and the pillar where the crash happened, show no sign of structural damage. Employees working near the crash scene at the front of the building were evacuated, but others inside corrections continued working.
The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) bomb squad was called to the area as a precaution and did not find anything suspicious inside the truck. LMPD says it believes this is an isolated incident and that the driver of the truck acted alone.
"There’s really no need for any panic or any public alarm. Officers in the area and throughout the city are aware of the incident and will be looking out for anything that is suspicious and will be taking care of any of those incidents," said Beth Ruoff with LMPD.
Spectrum News 1 asked LMPD about the phrase spray-painted on the side of the truck "Patria y vida," which is Spanish for "homeland and life." Reports suggested it had something to do with protests taking place in Cuba and LMPD said they don't have any information about that right now.