A Berkeley Public Works employee was arrested Monday after authorities suspect he sent a video to a co-worker depicting him shooting a handgun into the floor of his house, before texting the words “I’m coming,” according to court documents.
Pat Urdahl, 56, was charged with felony criminal threats and possession of a firearm by a felon after authorities say he sent a slew of menacing texts Friday afternoon to a co-worker, court documents show. He was being held at the Santa Rita Jail and scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday morning.
A co-worker told police that he was afraid to come to work after getting the messages, all of which were sent between 4 p.m. and 6:05 p.m. Friday, court documents show.
One message read: “LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU BECUASE[sic] IF THINGS DONT [sic] FIXED YOUR [sic] DONE!!!! F*** you and everyone that had had [sic] something to do with this,” according to the court documents.
“I’m coming with EVERYTHING. GOOD LUCK,” read another of Urdahl’s texts, which was followed up with a picture of a guitar with a bullet hole in it, along with a neon yellow vest issued by Berkeley Public Works. “I just shot my whole house up.”
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That’s when authorities say Urdahl sent the video of him firing a gun, followed by the words “I’m coming.”
The following morning, Urdahl texted a supervisor saying he had drank a fifth of whiskey and blacked out. He added that he planned to resign and die by suicide.
It was not clear from court documents how long Urdahl had been working for the city’s public works department, nor in what capacity. An email from the Bay Area News Group sent Wednesday morning to the city agency was not immediately returned.
If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Call or text the lifeline at 988, or see the 988lifeline.org website, where chat is available.
Check back for updates to this developing report.
