IOWA CITY – A University of Iowa freshman was arrested after his prank went all wrong this weekend.
At approximately 5:08 PM on Saturday, October 15, the University of Iowa Police Department received a call from a student on campus who reported that he had received a text message from a friend about an emergency at Burge Residence Hall. The text message indicated there was an active shooter in the building, and directed the friend to call police.
The UI Police Department immediately dispatched officers to Burge, where residents were in the process of evacuating the building upon their arrival at 5:10 PM.
At 5:16 PM, the same student called the UI Police Department back to say his friend had gotten back in touch with him to say that he was joking.
Upon determining there was no active shooter or threat to student safety, the UI Police Department began an investigation and brought both students in for questioning. Students were permitted to re-enter the building at approximately 5:45 PM.
As a result of the incident, Freshman Harrison Tsimouris, age 18, was arrested later Saturday and was charged with filing a false report.
