William Daniel Tew
Auburndale, Florida – Auburndale Police have made an arrest in a bomb threat that dates back to the beginning of the school year. On August 19, 2013, a teacher at Auburndale High School gave her cell phone number to students, the teacher stressed only to call her if they needed help with their school work. On the same day, the teacher began receiving text messages warning of a bomb and made a threat to the teacher to not report the threat. The language in the text messages: “Bomb” and “Auburndale High School is under attack”. The teacher received another text later after she reported the bomb threat: “Home girl u betta watch wat u report cuz ill be hau’n thugs up there all day tomorrow. Dey be slick past all da cops” and “Look homeboi in ga”. This apparently giving reference to the school shootings in Georgia.
Police began investigating these threats and found the number that was used in the text messages was “spoofed” using a phone application called Pinger. This application will cause the real cell phone number to be replaced with a false number. An investigation began to retrieve the information from these vendors to identify the owner of the cell phone.
In the mean time, on October 17, 2013 a text message was sent to Heartland Crime Stoppers reporting a bomb at the Auburndale High School and shortly after the same tipster reported a bomb at the Lake Myrtle Soccer Complex. A suspect was developed, William Daniel Tew W/M DOB: 9/8/1996. Tew lives within eye view of the soccer complex, he was questioned and denied any involvement. A search warrant was obtained for Tew’s cell phone where it was examined. Evidence was discovered to link these crimes to his cell phone. As a result of the examination of the phone, another application was discovered that was used to make prank phone calls and record the conversations. Both of these prank calls were made on October 17, 2013, one to Stambaugh Middle School and one to Auburndale High School. Police had enough probable cause to arrest Tew.
Tew was arrested at Auburndale High School on November 6, 2013. He admitted to the crimes while in custody at the police department.
Tew is charged with 3 counts False Report of a Bomb, a 2nd degree felony, Tampering with a Witness, 1st degree felony, Illegal Use of Device to Intercept Communications, 3rd degree felony, Stalking and Harassing Phone calls both misdemeanors.