Sierra Vista, Arizona Man Arrested for ‘Disastrous’ Social Media Threat

Social media is a mixed blessing. We all know it's a great way to inform the public about a wide range of interests—groups, meet-ups, local events, and activities.

The upside is that it's an efficient and easy way to spread the word. On the downside, people will have opinions no matter what you post.

If you've ever read a comment and thought, "Did he mean to say that out loud?" you know what I'm talking about.

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Free speech is a protected right in our country, but there are caveats. You can't shout 'fire' in a crowded theater—and you can't make a threat online, even if you claim you're joking.

A local Sierra Vista man found out the hard way that he probably should have used his inside voice instead of sharing his comment with the world.

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Think Before You React on Social Media

This week, a Sierra Vista resident wrote a potentially inflammatory social media comment, expressing his displeasure about an upcoming city-wide event.

The Sierra Vista Police Department (SVPD) arrested a man for threatening cyclists on the City of Sierra Vista’s Facebook page. The comment was added to a post promoting the upcoming Zona in the Park festival.

The comment read, “They ride up Charleston Road, I’m running them over.”

A city employee flagged the comment and reported it to the SVPD. The police department saw the post as a possible threat to public safety, so an officer was dispatched to investigate the case.

Based on the interview, the individual was arrested on charges of threatening and intimidating. The man was booked into the Cochise County Jail.

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Man Arrested for Social Media Comments in Sierra Vista

Sierra Vista Police Department Corporal Scott Borgstadt explained the department's stance on why the man was arrested.

“We take all threats seriously. Even if the person making the statement claims it was just a joke or they didn’t mean it, we will investigate and make an arrest if there is probable cause.”

Here's the post from the Sierra Vista Police Department's Facebook page explaining the action they took regarding the man's threatening post:

Remember to Be Mindful of Your Words on Social Media

This incident is a bold reminder that online comments can have real-world consequences.

Keyboard warriors and off-handed commenters: slow down before making an inflammatory post. Even if you intend the comment to be a joke, your words could be construed as a threat and lead to legal action.

Sources: City of Sierra Vista Press Release (via email) | El Tour de Zona | Facebook: Sierra Vista Police Fire and EMS