A fourth-year architecture student who police say sent a threatening tweet was arrested Friday (April 12) at his off-campus apartment, said Lt. Gary Crain of the University of Arkansas Police Department.
Carlos Martinez, 23, faces a charge of terroristic threatening, officials said. He also faces a drug-possession charge after investigators say they found drugs on him, according to authorities. He remained Friday night in the Washington County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.
Architecture students were evacuated from the Old Field House on the campus shortly after noon Friday, officials said.
The text was not a bomb threat, but it was threatening enough to raise concerns among campus authorities, officials said. Several campus police vehicles were seen outside the Old Field House after it was evacuated. Students also were evacuated from a satellite campus near the Northwest Arkansas Mall, police said.
Architecture classes are being held in the Old Field House at 453 N. Garland Ave. while regular classroom buildings undergo construction.
According to a statement on the university website, the tweet attributed to Martinez says, "UPDATE: Someone screams over the mezzanine and shoots all the forth [sic] year."
Police found out about the message at about noon, and went to the Architecture building to look for Martinez, according to the UA's statement. He was not found at the building.
"The Twitter message was interpreted as a threat," Crain said in the statement. "For the peace of mind of the students, faculty and staff, the architecture department decided to send students home from two of the studios. Their concern is understandable."
