Eight on-campus buildings evacuated after suspect pulls fire alarms

Bobby Blanchard

September 11, 2012

Austin Fire Leutenant Brooks Frederick, UT Fire Prevention Safetey Specialist II Roosevelt Easley and Safetey Specialist I Francisco Gutierrez exchange information after fire alarms were set off in 11 UT buildings Monday afternoon.

UT Police Department said witnesses reported a suspect pulling fire alarms across campus Monday afternoon, which resulted in eight on-campus building evacuations.

According to interviews with witnesses, UTPD spokesperson Cindy Posey said the suspect is either white or Hispanic and is in his 30s. She said he was wearing a white T-shirt with writing on it, blue-jean shorts, a religious necklace and a black hat with red trim. Posey also said he is around 5-feet-5-inches tall, weighs 180 pounds and has short black hair.

Posey said no emergencies were confirmed, but as of Monday night UTPD was not ready to confirm that all the alarms were false.

Monday evening, The Daily Texan obtained security camera photos of the suspect from UTPD. The photos are available for viewing online.

Posey said students are encouraged to call the police if they see someone matching the suspect’s description or the security camera photos.