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Austin man held on $100,000 bond after reported threats involving UT and churches

A friend’s call to the 988 crisis line prompted police to investigate statements about the University of Texas and a Lakeway church, according to an affidavit. David Benjamin Coleman-Roush faces a felony terroristic-threat charge and two family-assault charges.

Austin man held on $100,000 bond after reported threats involving UT and churches
A 35-year-old veteran is being held in Travis County Jail after a friend’s call to the 988 crisis line led Austin police to investigate reported threats involving the University of Texas at Austin and a church in Lakeway, according to an arrest affidavit and court records. David Benjamin Coleman-Roush was arrested Oct. 2 and charged with third-degree felony terroristic threat. The allegations have not been proven in court. The affidavit says Coleman-Roush’s friend called 988 on the night of Oct. 1 because he was concerned about him. The call was transferred to 911, and police met with the friend, who reported that Coleman-Roush had talked about “seeing something tomorrow” involving UT and a Lakeway church, in connection with a televised mass-casualty event. The friend also told officers that Coleman-Roush’s wife was leaving him and that the situation could worsen what the friend described as delusions, the affidavit says. Police later spoke with Coleman-Roush’s wife. She reported receiving text messages that included comments about going to UT the next day and following a plan. She also told officers he had a “kill list” and had previously threatened to kill a pastor, according to the affidavit. She said that earlier threat was made during an alleged assault, not in a text message. Officers went to the UT campus on Oct. 2 to assess the situation and prevent possible mass violence, the affidavit says. Court records show Coleman-Roush also faces a third-degree felony charge of assaulting a family member by impeding breathing or circulation and a misdemeanor family-assault charge. Those allegations relate to an incident reported as occurring Sept. 30. Coleman-Roush remains in jail on a $100,000 bond. A judge ordered him to stay away from his wife, two churches and all UT property, and to surrender any firearms, court records show.

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