Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested an Omaha man as part of an ongoing investigation into threats made against Columbus Catholic Schools and the family of Governor Jim Pillen.
On June 29, the Nebraska State Patrol was contacted by the administration of Columbus Catholic Schools regarding a threatening message that was received through the school website. The message included a threat of violence to the school and Governor Pillen’s family. The Nebraska State Patrol immediately began investigating and quickly identified a physical address in Omaha that was attached to the IP address associated with the website comment.
In the afternoon of June 29, NSP located a resident of 4512 Bedford Avenue, Apartment 8, outside the apartment and attempted to make contact. The man refused commands from troopers, ran to the apartment, and barricaded himself inside. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the residence and an arrest warrant for the man, identified as Ean Halstead, 32.
After nearly two hours of repeated commands, Halstead exited the residence voluntarily. Halstead was arrested for obstructing a police officer and failure to obey a lawful order. He was lodged in Douglas County Jail on June 29 on those charges.
Investigators located several electronic items during the search of the residence. Further investigation and examination of those items revealed evidence linking Ean Halstead to the threatening message sent to Columbus Catholic Schools. An arrest warrant was issued today for Halstead for the charges of terroristic threats and destruction of evidence.
NSP SWAT was activated due to the previous barricading incident, and Halstead was arrested at his residence this afternoon in Omaha without incident. Halstead has been lodged in Douglas County Jail.
“Nebraska law enforcement takes threats against our schools seriously, and the Nebraska State Patrol will continue to use every resource available to protect students, staff, and our communities. I want to thank our dedicated team for their professionalism, teamwork, and commitment to keeping Nebraskans safe. This investigation reflects the importance of preparation, collaboration, and the strong partnerships that allow swift and effective response to this type of incident. We are thankful for a safe outcome for all involved,” said Colonel Bryan Waugh, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.
Dave Lopez, chief of staff to Governor Pillen said: “We are extremely grateful to the dedicated investigators of the Nebraska State Patrol and allied law enforcement agencies for their quick and thorough work to track down this individual and ensure the security of the First Family. We have zero tolerance for political violence here in Nebraska, including threats to carry it out. If you threaten violence against a public official or their family in this state, you will be found and held accountable. The heated political rhetoric that too often leads to radicalization and violence must cool off.”
The Nebraska State Patrol has worked with Columbus Catholic Schools to ensure the safety of the school during this investigation. The Omaha Police Department and several divisions within the Nebraska State Patrol also assisted in this investigation. The investigation remains ongoing.
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