Bomb Threats Could Land Suspects Behind Bars
By: Brittany Escobar
Updated: February 20, 2013
Captain Stephen Hinkle with the Texas Tech Police Department said bomb threats aren't something they take lightly.
"People that actually make bomb threats could actually be filed on for terroristic threat," said Capt. Hinkle.
According to Texas law he said its a felony.
Capt. Hinkles said the last bomb threat on Tech campus was about six months ago.
Since then, across Texas there have been several threats at schools and universities, including on Wednesday.
Hitting close to home, Anton ISD was evacuated after a bomb threat was reported to school officials.
Lubbock ATF was called to investigate the school.
Then, hours after an alert was issued to students and faculty of Texas A&M, closing a half dozen buildings and its athletic complex after they too received a bomb threat.
Federal agencies were brought in to help with that investigation.
Luckily in both incidents no bomb was found.
Capt. Hinkle said even calling in a false threat could put someone behind bars.
"If they call in a bomb threat they could also be charged with false report," he said, "that would be a state jail felony."
He said because they are responsible for more than 35,000 students and faculty on Tech campus their first priority is to search for the bomb.
"We don't want to cause mass chaos if it is someone calling in and making a threat when there is nothing there," he said/
But if they do find something suspicious, he said then their priority turns to the safety of those at the university.
"If there is an evacuation people need to stay off their cell phones, because a cellular phone could actually set off a detonator," said Capt. Hinkle.
He said if anyone ever overhears someone making a bomb threat to immediately get away from the area and call 911.
"People that actually make bomb threats could actually be filed on for terroristic threat," said Capt. Hinkle.
According to Texas law he said its a felony.
Capt. Hinkles said the last bomb threat on Tech campus was about six months ago.
Since then, across Texas there have been several threats at schools and universities, including on Wednesday.
Hitting close to home, Anton ISD was evacuated after a bomb threat was reported to school officials.
Lubbock ATF was called to investigate the school.
Then, hours after an alert was issued to students and faculty of Texas A&M, closing a half dozen buildings and its athletic complex after they too received a bomb threat.
Federal agencies were brought in to help with that investigation.
Luckily in both incidents no bomb was found.
Capt. Hinkle said even calling in a false threat could put someone behind bars.
"If they call in a bomb threat they could also be charged with false report," he said, "that would be a state jail felony."
He said because they are responsible for more than 35,000 students and faculty on Tech campus their first priority is to search for the bomb.
"We don't want to cause mass chaos if it is someone calling in and making a threat when there is nothing there," he said/
But if they do find something suspicious, he said then their priority turns to the safety of those at the university.
"If there is an evacuation people need to stay off their cell phones, because a cellular phone could actually set off a detonator," said Capt. Hinkle.
He said if anyone ever overhears someone making a bomb threat to immediately get away from the area and call 911.
Comments
People just want attention. The person wants to create an environment of panic/confusion which works but not worth it if they are caught. I feel like it'[censored] a waste of a person energy to do all that.
James B.
February 20, 2013 at 9:45 pm
