Man accused of threatening to blow up Tempe Army recruiting station

PHOENIX – Police arrested a man last week for allegedly threatening to blow up an East Valley Army recruiting station, according to court documents.

Brian Thomas Keck, 35, was booked on a felony charge of making a terrorist threat after police linked him to a phone used in the threats.

According to court records, Keck was placed on three years’ probation in 2017 after pleading guilty to domestic violence charges.

In last week’s incident, a man called the recruiting station on Broadway Road near McClintock Road in Tempe around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and said he was going to blow it up, according to the probable cause statement.

Within the next 45 minutes, two text messages mentioning prior terrorist acts in the U.S. were received from the same phone number.

Police learned from the phone company that the number was owned by Keck. The phone company also provided a ping location, leading police to a motel on Van Buren Street near 40th Street.

Phoenix police arrested Keck there around 6 p.m. the day the threats were made.

The probable cause statement says Keck, after being read his Miranda rights, told police details about the call and texts that only the suspect and victims would know.

Court documents said Keck is transient and lives in motels around the Phoenix area.

A preliminary hearing in the case was scheduled for Friday.

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