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Police: Worker Made UF Bomb Threat For 'Me Time'

Jessica Ward (Photo from Alachua County jail)
Jessica Ward (Photo from Alachua County jail)

Police have arrested a 24-year-old Waldo woman who they believe made a bomb threat at the University of Florida last week.

Jessica Ward was charged with making a false report concerning planting a bomb, which is a felony, according to a news release today from UF police.

The threat was made against the university's engineering building, and Ward worked in the building's Java Hut Coffee Kiosk, the release says.

Students were evacuated from the building Wednesday after a note was found on the first floor of the building in a restroom, and classes in the building were canceled for the rest of the day.

Later, during an interview with police, Ward said she wrote the threat. She told them she wanted to leave work at the threat's indicated time so she could have “me time," according to the release.

Ward was arrested this morning and remained at the Alachua County jail on a $15,000 bond.

Correction: The original headline to this article mistakenly said Ward called in the threat.

Michelle Tapia is a reporter for WUFT News and can be reached at 352-392-6397 or michellebtapia@ufl.edu.