A 29-year-old Keene-area man was arrested last Saturday after two local churches got bomb threat voicemails that sent officers scrambling, police said. Both church properties were searched, no explosives were found, and each site was cleared later in the day. The suspect was booked into the Johnson County Jail on a charge of making a terroristic threat while investigators continue to work the case.
Threatening Calls, Searches and an Arrest
According to Keene police, the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día each received a threatening voicemail at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, triggering a coordinated law enforcement response and detailed sweeps of both locations.
Investigators later traced the recorded messages to 29-year-old Joshua Pike of Joshua, Texas, and took him into custody after warrants were issued. This account was reported by FOX 4.
What 'Terroristic Threat' Means in Texas
Under Texas law, making a “terroristic threat” covers threats meant to spark an emergency response or put people in fear, and the level of the charge depends on the threat’s intent and impact. The offense is defined in Texas Penal Code § 22.07, which allows penalties ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on whether the threat disrupts public services or endangers a larger group.
Prosecutors can pursue enhanced charges if investigators conclude the calls were aimed at interrupting public gatherings or terrorizing a broader community.
Investigation Still Active
Police have not said whether Pike had any prior relationship with either congregation or what might have motivated the calls, and they have warned that additional charges could follow as the investigation moves forward.
Keene sits roughly 30 miles south of Fort Worth, and the voicemails prompted an immediate local response Saturday afternoon. Authorities said they plan to release more information as investigators develop the case.
