THE UNIVERSITY OF AUSTIN AT TEXAS — On April 7, a call came into the UTPD 9-1-1 Communications Center from a person stating they put a pipe bomb in the lobby of the police department. The caller demanded a payment in bitcoin and the dispatcher’s participation in sexual acts or he would blow up the building. The call was disconnected.
Minutes later another call came in from what sounded like the previous caller. The person once again threatened to blow up the building. The caller told a UTPD officer to evacuate.
UTPD used bomb detection K-9s to conduct a search of the lobby and the exterior of the building. Additionally, officers reviewed security camera footage for evidence of a person placing an explosive device. No suspicious activity or device was found.
On April 12, the UTPD 9-1-1 Communication Center again received a call from the same person. During this conversation the caller said he was going to shoot the dispatcher and told the dispatcher to perform sexually explicit acts.
On April 13, the UTPD 9-1-1 Communication Center received a call from The University of Texas at Austin Human Resource Service Center. A supervisor reported being on the phone with a male who said he wanted to shoot up the university, “at least 200 people.” While officers were en route to the UT HR Service Center, the male said he would shoot the first person he sees. A UTPD officer took over the call at which time the anonymous caller said he would “kill the first person he sees.” That officer personally listened to the most recent threatening call on 4/12 and was certain it was the same person.
Based on the exigency of the threat of violence, investigators immediately contacted phone and internet service providers. They determined the phone from which the calls originated belonged to Sean Evan Haddon of Crosby, TX. Detectives quickly developed information verifying the suspect was not in the Austin area. In each case, police investigated immediately and thoroughly and determined there was no active threat that would have prompted a campus wide communications.
At 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 15, UTPD officers including detectives from the Threat Mitigation Unit, K-9 Bomb Detection Unit and Counter Assault Strike Team executed a warrant at a residence in Crosby, Texas. With assistance from Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Harris County Constable Precinct 3, they arrested Sean Evan Haddon,23. Haddon was booked into the Harris County Jail on the 3rd degree felony offense of Terroristic Threat.
