SAN JOSE – Authorities on Friday arrested a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employee on suspicion of making “threats of gun violence” at his jobsite.
The incident was reported around 7:50 a.m. at the VTA Chaboya Division Yard in the 2200 block of South 10th Street in San Jose, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Cian Jackson said in a news release.
Jackson said deputies confirmed the worker made threats of gun violence in the presence of other employees.
The worker was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Jail on criminal threats charges, Jackson said.
Jackson declined to say whether the worker made specific threats or possessed any firearms.
“At this time, we are not releasing that information,” Jackson said. “This is still an active and ongoing investigation.”
The VTA is no stranger to gun violence. On May 26, 2021, a disgruntled employee shot and killed nine co-workers at the Guadalupe rail yard. Building B, where half a dozen employees were fatally shot, was torn down last month.
In a statement, the VTA lauded employees and deputies for their respective roles in Friday’s incident.
“VTA management commends the swift action employees took to report the threatening behavior of a fellow employee, and for the immediate response from the Sheriff’s Department to arrest and remove the employee who made the threat from VTA property,” the agency said. “VTA has zero tolerance for this type of threatening behavior and will continue to treat any similar incident with an urgent response.”
The agency said trauma counselors were dispatched to the Chaboya Division Yard.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information related to the case to call 408-808-4500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the tip line at 408-808-4431.
Source: www.mercurynews.com