Tempe police announced the arrest of Kathleen Tierney this morning, apprehended for the alleged social media threats that disrupted the regularly scheduled August Tempe City Council meeting, as reported by a Tempe government publication. Tierney was taken into custody by the Criminal Apprehension Surveillance Team of Tempe, assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service, in Tucson.
The charges against Tierney include one count of Computer Tampering, a Class 5 felony, and additional charges encompassing Disorderly Conduct, and Threatening and Intimidating - Public Inconvenience, which are Class 1 misdemeanors the article further detailed the nature of the computer tampering charge, defined as "recklessly using a computer, computer system or network to engage in a scheme or course of conduct that is directed at another person and that seriously alarms, torments, threatens or terrorizes the person."
In response to the incident, the council meeting on Aug. 28 was terminated swiftly to safeguard attendees' wellbeing, with the subsequent two meetings shifting to a virtual format to prevent further risks. "This arrest demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting the safety of our community members and elected leaders," Tempe Police Chief Ken McCoy affirmed in the press release, "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."
Emphasizing their dedication to safety and democratic processes, the Tempe Police Department, alongside the City of Tempe, is stalwart in preserving a secure environment for all who live, work, or engage in public service within their jurisdiction. The investigation is ongoing, and further details remain undisclosed at this juncture. Officials encouraged the public to be vigilant and reassured that they would treat every threat with the utmost seriousness, ensuring offenders are held accountable.
