SALEM — A Derry man was arrested Wednesday night for allegedly threatening an employee earlier in the day at Southern New Hampshire University's Salem Center, prompting a lockdown at the school.
Shawn DeCoste, 31, was apprehended at his home by Salem and Derry police officers and charged with criminal threatening and also resisting arrest when he refused to be taken into custody, according to Salem police Lt. Ron Peddle.
DeCoste allegedly called the university about 4 p.m. and made threatening comments to an administrator after he was told he could no longer attend the school, Salem police Capt. Shawn Patten said.
"He made serious, generalized threats to school employees on the phone," Patten said.
The school, at 19 Keewaydin Drive, was put on lockdown for less than an hour.
During that time, no one was allowed to leave or enter the building until it was cleared by police. It was reopened, with a police officer stationed at the school for the rest of the night, Peddle said.
"Once our officers entered, and we secured the building and cleared it, people could leave when they wanted to," he said.
It took police about a minute to respond to the school, Peddle said.
Salem police said early last night they had a suspect, but did not release his name until after his arrest at 7:45 p.m. University officials were not available for comment after the lockdown.
Peddle said they were able to track DeCoste through addresses given to them by the school. He was found at his home and put up a struggle when officers tried to arrest him, Peddle added. No one from the Derry Police Department was available last night to comment on the arrest.
DeCoste's MySpace page says he is a 2009 graduate of Hesser College and was studying for his master's degree in business administration at SNHU's Salem Center. DeCoste also said on his Web site that he is a stand-up comedian who performs regularly at local establishments.
DeCoste is being held on $25,000 bail and was slated to be arraigned at 10 a.m. Thursday in Salem District Court.
