Oregon State Police identify suspect accused of making threats of violence

22-year-old Christopher Strahan was arrested yesterday for making threats of violence over Twitter towards Oregon State University and the community. 

Updated 10:12 a.m.

Oregon State Police have identified Christopher Strahan as the suspect accused of making threats of violence on Twitter towards Oregon State University.

Strahan was identified through his Twitter username “Hard Belly Dorm”. OSP located Strahan outside a residence in Corvallis and took him into custody around 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 27.

The suspect was then booked and lodged at the Benton County Correctional Facility for disorderly conduct in the first degree. He remains in the Benton County Jail with his bail set at $12,500.

According to OregonLaws, a person commits disorderly conduct in the first degree if “with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or knowingly creating a risk thereof, the person initiates or circulates a report, knowing it to be false.”

Disorderly conduct in the first degree is a Class A misdemeanor, according to OregonLaws.  

Authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, were able to identify and apprehend Strahan on Tuesday after reports of threats made against the university community were received.

OSP Lieutenant Eric Judah reminded students that since at this time the suspect is in jail, he does not pose a threat. However, extra OSP officers will be patrolling on campus today to keep the OSU community safe.

“This is not a joking matter,” Judah said. “I would encourage anybody to report this type of behavior to law enforcement as soon as possible. Don’t view an off-hand comment of shooting at school as a joking matter, take it seriously.”

Strahan made similar threats of shooting violence last February and was arrested then, Judah said.

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