University police say an Indiana man was arrested Friday afternoon in connection to threats made to the Long Beach State men’s basketball team following its 72-71 loss to Fullerton State in the Big West Tournament championship earlier this month.
Carson Bledsoe, 23, was arrested by police in Indiana on suspicion of intimidation with the use of a deadly weapon, a felony in the state, Lt. Carol Almaguer of the university police department said.
Police say Bledsoe is responsible for sending several expletive-filled messages threatening to poison players and hurt a member of a coach’s family, according to a search warrant filed in Long Beach Superior Court. The messages also say the local university should be “blown up,” according to the warrant.
In one message, the man appears to be holding a pocketknife and threatening senior point guard and Big West Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year Colin Slater with death “by a bullet,” along with a slew of other racist and derogatory comments, the warrant shows.
Fullerton’s team and staff also received similar messages from the same individual, including threats to slit the throats of the kids of whomever ran their Facebook page, according to the search warrant. CSUF’s police department said they never received any calls reporting the incident.
The motive for the threats is still unclear. But at least one person is expected to press charges related to the criminal threat, after saying they believe the threats are credible, making them fear for their lives, according to the warrant.
Police investigate death threats to Long Beach State basketball team following loss