Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: On Campus

Media Credit: Courtesy photo Frank Arriaga is suspected of making a general threat to the Eastfield and Richland campuses.

Eastfield and Richland colleges went under an emergency lock down on Dec. 21 and both campuses were evacuated because of a threat made by a former student.

According to a Mesquite Police Department incident report, Francisco Xavier Arriaga, a 29-year-old former student of both Eastfield and Richland, made threats that he was going to return to campus and kill everyone, but did not state which campus he was referencing.

The report states that the threat was made to an outside individual who notified the Dallas Police Department of the threat. The DPD deemed it to be credible and then notified the Mesquite Police Department.

Mesquite police officers Mosley, Green, Killingsworth, Gates and Sgt. McFarland were dispatched to the Eastfield campus at approximately 2:15 p.m. Once they arrived on the scene they contacted campus police. Officer Paul Arroyo responded to the call and notified Lt. Ray Hill. Both proceeded to the administrative suite to advise Dr. Carol Brown of the situation.

After speaking with officer Laky of the DPD, Brown advised campus police to place the campus on lock down mode. Classrooms and offices were told to lock their doors and not open them until notified by a police official, Jim Jones or Brown.

At approximately 2:45 p.m. campus police began evacuating the buildings while Mesquite Police monitored the campus. Signs were placed on all doors stating that the campus was closed.

Brown stated that the Garland Police Department was in contact with Arriaga. However, according to the MPD incident report, Garland police went to Arriaga's residence but he was not located. Police records show Arriaga was driving a silver 2006 Dodge pick up with TX license plates.

DCCCD Legal Counsel, Robert Young, said most of the allegations on the MPD police report were false.

"The information is erroneous and completely misinterpreted," Young said. "He [Arriaga] didn't say any of those things. The threat was very non-specific and was misinterpreted by the Dallas Police Department."
Young believes both campuses reacted well to the emergency situation.

The MPD incident report also states that Arriaga is a possible suspect in a homicide, which took place at Richland College.

Eastfield Police Chief Tyler Moore said he was not ready to comment about the situation. Arroyo declined to comment as well.

Arriaga's criminal background includes convictions for driving while intoxicated and use of a concealed weapon and he has a current TCIC warrant for driving under the influence.

Arriaga's MySpace page states he attended EFC from 2000 to 2005 and graduated with an associate degree. It also states is now attending UNT and Richland.

In an e-mail sent to the campus on Jan. 3, 2008 by Brown it stated, "As in any situation there is much to learn and we will continue to refine and improve our crisis management process."

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Contact Brittney Serrioz at blserrioz@netmail.dcccd.edu

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