**Tucson Woman Arrested for Online Threat That Postponed Tempe City Council Meeting**
PHOENIX — A Tucson woman was arrested Wednesday for allegedly making an online threat that led to the postponement of a Tempe City Council meeting last month, authorities said.
Kathleen Tierney faces one felony count of computer tampering and two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, according to the Tempe Police Department. The computer tampering charge is based on a state statute that prohibits recklessly using a computer, computer system, or network to engage in a scheme or course of conduct directed at another person that seriously alarms, torments, threatens, or terrorizes that person.
Tierney was taken into custody in Tucson by Tempe Criminal Apprehension Surveillance Team officers, with support from the U.S. Marshals Service.
“This arrest demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting the safety of our community members and elected leaders,” Tempe Police Chief Ken McCoy said in a press release. “Threats like this not only endanger lives, they disrupt civic engagement and silence the voices of the people we serve.”
### What Happened When the Threat Was Made Against the Tempe City Council Meeting?
Wednesday’s arrest follows an investigation into a threatening social media post targeting attendees of the August 28 Tempe City Council meeting. The threat was posted just as the council chamber was filling up shortly before the meeting was scheduled to begin.
“The concern was specific in nature and credible enough that we could not in good conscience proceed with the meeting,” Assistant Chief James Sweig said in a press release at the time.
As a result, about 75 people were escorted from the room, and the meeting was rescheduled to September 2 and conducted virtually as a precaution. Additionally, a work study session on September 4 was also changed to a virtual format.
Tempe resumed in-person City Council meetings last Thursday after police implemented several new security measures.
Tempe City Council meetings are held at the East Valley suburb’s City Hall, a distinctive inverted pyramid building on Fifth Street just east of Mill Avenue.
https://ktar.com/arizona-news/tempe-city-council-threat-arrest/5754114/