Fire victim's son arrested for making terrorist threat

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile police arrested former Spring Hill College student Chase Romagnano Thursday and charged him with making a terrorist threat against the college.

In July 2011, Spring Hill issued an advisory to faculty and staff saying, "Mr. Romagnano is not allowed on the campus, at College events, or to contact the College."  The advisory went on to say, "If you see Mr. Romagnano on the campus or at SHC events, or receive communication from him, refer him to Public Safety and contact them immediately."

Police said Romagnano made threats of violence to students and faculty.

"His communication with the college went from just expressing his frustration to making threats against students, faculty and staff to basically expressing he wanted to cause violence on college campus," said Mobile police Spokesperson Ashley Rains.

Rains told FOX10 News that Romagnano "...continues to contact SHC employees via email with harassing comments. On August 8, the suspect sent an email considered to be threatening in nature to the student body, faculty and staff. The college was forced to assemble a threat assessment team to discuss and evaluate the threats and increase campus patrols."

"A warrant was signed and the suspect arrested," according to Rains.

According to court documents, Romagnano sent an e-mail to Spring Hill College saying, "If ya'll continue f****** me over and it looks like I have no future in this town, then yeah, I'll go on the warpath"... "My view has always been if you go down take a bunch of people with you and I plan on doing just that".

In a statement, Director of Communications and Institutional Marketing John Kerr said:

"Spring Hill College this week filed a complaint with the Mobile Police Department against a former student who made threatening statements via e-mail  toward members of our campus community.
 
The College takes such threats seriously. The Mobile Police Department investigated this situation, issued a warrant and subsequently arrested this individual. "

Romagnano's arrest comes months after his mother died in a house fire on Lighthouse Court in Mobile. 

Family members said 60-year-old Rebecca Romagnano was a "hoarder" and was trapped by her own clutter.  Firefighters couldn't get inside to save her. 

Chase managed to escape through a small opening in a set of French doors.