Man arrested after bomb threat against GC student union

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story reported that the bomb threat was received via phone call subsequent police interviews revealed that the information was sent via text. The story has been changed to reflect this new information.

Authorities have arrested and charged a man in connection with a bomb threat that led to the evacuation and closure of the Maxwell Student Union on the Georgia College campus Wednesday morning.

Law enforcement officials say Wilson Harper Jr., 28, of Milledgeville, texted the the threat around 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The university confirmed that Harper was a Sodexo employee. The food service company is responsible for dining services on campus.

“He was booked into the Baldwin County Jail [and] charged with one count of terroristic threats,” the university said in a press release.

The bomb threat led to the evacuation of the MSU. At the same time, officials with GC Public Safety, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI), and other local law enforcement swept the building for any devices.

“A canine unit conducted a sweep and determined that no explosive devices were present,” the statement continued.

“The safety of our campus community is and always will be our top priority,” said GC Public Safety Chief Brett Stanelle. “We are grateful for the collaboration that led to the result we had today, and the work of the GBI along with the Georgia Department of Corrections and Bibb County Sheriff’s Office—who both sent their K-9 units. Through this partnership, a thorough assessment confirmed that the threat was not viable and ultimately led to the apprehension of the person we believe was responsible”

The first campus-wide notification of the threat came after 11 a.m. in an email from university president Cathy Cox who said in part,” “The building is now re-opened and will resume normal operations.  Public Safety will maintain a presence around the MSU throughout the day”