Arrest in Tucson for online threat that evacuated Tempe meeting | Crime

TEMPE, Ariz. (KVOA) – A Tucson woman has been arrested in connection with an online threat that prompted the evacuation of a Tempe City Council meeting late last month.

Tempe police, with assistance from U.S. Marshals, arrested 56-year-old Kathleen Tierney Wednesday in Tucson. Tierney is accused of making a social media threat that led to the evacuation of the Tempe City Council meeting on August 28.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen I want to thank you for being here for tonight’s City Council meeting. Due to some safety concerns tonight’s council meeting will be rescheduled to a different time. So what I need to do is everyone slowly exit the council chambers safely and stay tuned for information on when this council meeting will be rescheduled. Thank you,” said an official during the meeting.

Tierney is facing charges including one count of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor for threatening and intimidating, and a felony charge for computer tampering.

“Tierney was booked and released pending charges,” said the Tempe Police Department. News 4 Tucson’s request for an interview with Police Chief Ken McCoy or any official was declined.

News 4 Tucson reached out to the assistants for Tempe’s mayor, vice mayor, and five city council members regarding the arrest but did not hear back from most of them.

Ty Lee, the assistant for Councilmember Arlene Chin did respond to News 4 Tucson’s request writing via email, “At this time, Councilmember Chin is unavailable to provide a comment about the incident or subsequent arrest.”