On December 9, 2016, around 3:15 p.m., Tucson Police officers and members from the Tucson Fire Department responded to a 911 call from a citizen reporting that a man, later identified as 22-year-old Marcus Alan Swift, attached a backpack on top of the Snake Bridge in the area of Broadway Blvd. and Aviation Pkwy. and walked away. Upon arrival, officers located the item on top of the enclosed pedestrian bridge.
The bridge and Broadway Blvd. were closed to pedestrian and vehicular traffic for approximately four hours to further the investigation.
Members of the Tucson Police Department Special Operations Section responded to the scene to continue the investigation. The Bomb Squad investigated the backpack and the contents were disrupted. They learned items in the backpack we not explosive. During this time, Swift returned the scene and took ownership of the backpack. Swift was detained and interviewed by detectives. Swift was arrested and booked into the Pima County Jail for Hoax, a class 4 felony and outstanding misdemeanor warrants.
The Tucson Police Department takes all threats seriously and works diligently to ensure the safety of our citizens. The Specialized Operations Section thoroughly investigates each and every one of these incidents. If it is determined that a person intentionally or knowingly engaged in any conduct that is likely to give the impression that an act of terrorism is taking place or will take place and causes an emergency response, that person may face felony charges. In addition, per Arizona Revised Statutes, that person may be liable for any expenses for the emergency response and the investigation of the hoax.