An arrest was made in connection with a reported online threat against Tempe City Hall, police said.
Kathleen M. Tierney, 56, of Tucson, was charged on suspicion of computer tampering, a class 5 felony, according to Tempe police. Tierney was also charged on suspicion of two class 1 misdemeanors — disorderly conduct plus threatening and intimidating causing public inconvenience, police said.
Tierney on Aug. 28 made a post on social media that posed “an immediate safety concern” causing officers to end the council meeting and clear out the chambers, police said.
The evening meeting’s agenda included a decision by the council on whether a special events ordinance would go on the March 10 ballot. A referendum on the ordinance gained enough signatures for voters to take up the issue. The referendum sought to overturn the council’s unanimous approval of updates, whose critics said would chill protest and lead to charitable groups folding.
That meeting was canceled, and the following two sessions were held virtually, police said.
A suspected motive was not disclosed by police, who also did not share details about the online threat.
“Threats like this not only endanger lives, they disrupt civic engagement and silence the voices of the people we serve. We will not allow intimidation to interfere with democracy in our city,” read a statement by Tempe Police Chief Ken McCoy.
Tempe Mayor Corey Woods could not be reached for comment.
Tierney was taken into custody in Tucson by Tempe police officers with help from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Tempe Police Department said.
“The investigation remains active, and no additional details are available for release at this time,” read a statement by police.
Located on Fifth Street near Mill Avenue, Tempe City Hall is about a two-minute walk from Tempe police headquarters.
On the morning of Sept. 16, a man, identified as Aaron Rodriguez, walked into the police headquarters’ lobby and said he had an explosive device in a backpack, according to Tempe police. A bomb unit found no threat, police said.
Rodriguez was booked on charges of disorderly conduct and threats causing serious public inconvenience, according to police. Authorities have not indicated a link between the two suspected threats.
Republic reporter Lauren De Young contributed to this article.
Open case: Boy shot while biking to Tempe In-N-Out shares details about the shooter
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tucson woman’s threat halted Tempe City Council meeting, police say