Feds raid Garden Grove chemical plant that sparked mass evacuations with explosion fears

The FBI launched an early morning raid on the Orange County GKN Aerospace facility that overheated and threatened to explode, prompting a mass evacuation in May.

The California Post watched as federal vehicles and dozens of agents showed up at the Garden Grove facility Wednesday morning.

EPA Special Agent Sawyer Rotell filed a search warrant last week to rifle through the GKN Aerospace facility in search of documents or devices related to an alleged environmental crime the company may have committed by allowing the hazardous methyl methacrylate to leak last month.

“We’ve got chemists, they’re doing soil samples, they’re doing all kinds of things,” Bill Essayli, LA’s top federal prosecutor, said. “So, we’ll get to the bottom of it.”

Agents have been searching the complex since around 8am, and at one point were seen heading into the area where the chemical tank that threatened to explode is located.

A big blue tent was set up in the facility’s parking lot.

Essayli said experts, including chemists and scientists, were flown in from across the country to assist with the investigation.

“When there’s a failure in the tanks and it caused a massive evacuation, impacted 50,000 residents, we have an obligation to figure out whether any crimes are committed,” Essayli said. “We presented that to a judge, and the judge agreed that we had sufficient probable cause to search for additional evidence.”

The Post has reached out to GKN Aerospace for comment, but have not heard back.

It appeared employees were sent home, as dozens of cars suddenly were seen driving out of the complex as officials continued their search.

Essayli underscored there is no imminent threat from the plant to the community, and expects the investigation to last throughout the day.

When asked for specifics on what evidence agents were looking for and collecting, Essayli declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

“We’ve not formed any conclusions at this time,” Essayli said. “We’re looking for evidence and if and when we’re ready to say more, we’ll say that at the appropriate time.”

The leak caused widespread panic last month and forced evacuations of more than 50,000 residents, who feared the nearby flammable and toxic chemical leak would cause an explosion.

Residents were made to seek shelter elsewhere for several days after being forced to leave their homes suddenly. Officials prepared for the leak to worsen into a potential explosion, but were able to defuse the situation, and residents were allowed to return home several days after the initial leak.

Rotell will also take a sample of the chemical within tanks on site.

Of particular interest are the risk analysis reports that an employee told Rotell every GKN Aerospace facility is required to write periodically and submit to their headquarters in the United Kingdom.

The warrant specifically notes that any documents or records related to risk analysis will be among the items seized.

Rotell’s warrant is based on an alleged violation of 42 USC Section 7412(r) (general duty to prevent accidental release of extremely hazardous substance into ambient air).

The agent acknowledges in the warrant that the chemical released, methyl methacrylate, is not listed under the law. But the large-scale evacuation from the potential leak of the substance warrants a classification that it is “extremely hazardous,” he argues.

A violation of the law carries a max fine of $1 million.

Last year, GKN Aerospace — a major supplier of jet engines, landing gear and aircraft components for commercial and military planes — paid nearly $910,000 to settle environmental violations tied to the same facility.

The company reached the settlement with the South Coast Air Quality Management District in January 2025 over permit violations, missing emissions records and nitrogen oxide issues connected to its Garden Grove plant.

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