Berkeley worker threatened to shoot colleagues, city says
Pat Urdahl sent a video to the city that showed him shooting a gun inside his house and making violent threats, sources said.
A 56-year-old Concord man who threatened to shoot colleagues and himself last week has now been charged with multiple felonies, authorities say.
The Scanner had the scoop Monday about Pat Urdahl's alleged threats of workplace violence and arrest at his Concord home that afternoon.
The city has not said what may have prompted Urdahl's alleged threats but sources told The Scanner that he was upset about a financial situation related to his salary and his taxes.
He sent a video to the city that showed him shooting a gun inside his house and making violent threats, sources said.
The city declined to comment about the situation on Monday or Tuesday but said it would have a statement about the case Wednesday after Urdahl was charged.
According to Wednesday's statement, the Berkeley Police Department was advised Sunday shortly before noon about Urdahl's threats.
"Our weekend patrol teams began working on this investigation, contacting the involved parties and ensuring people were safe," BPD said. "A warrant was obtained for Pat Urdahl, a City of Berkeley employee, and BPD established a security plan to ensure the safety of all involved parties."
On Monday, Berkeley police officers were dispatched around the city to provide extra security for workers if Urdahl showed up, BPD said.
The city also stepped up security at the Corporation Yard on 1326 Allston Way, The Scanner reported Monday.
Just before noon, the city emailed workers about the potential threat, sharing Urdahl's name and photograph and advising them to be aware of their surroundings.
One city worker later alerted The Scanner that hourly workers, some of whom are longtime employees, did not get the email advisory because they are not issued city email addresses.
(The city has not commented about the email to workers or the stepped-up security at the Corp Yard.)
Emilie Raguso
According to Wednesday's statement, BPD said its Special Response Team — what other agencies call SWAT — went to Concord on Monday with detectives and other BPD officers "to serve a search and arrest warrant" when Urdahl did not show up at work.
Police arrested Urdahl at his house "without incident" at about 1:20 p.m., BPD said.
Officers seized a firearm, ammunition and controlled substances at the residence, authorities said.
In Wednesday's statement, BPD said the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department and Concord Police Department assisted in the response.
Pat Urdahl. BPD
On Wednesday, the Alameda County district attorney's office charged Urdahl with three felonies: making criminal threats, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, along with several enhancements, according to court records.
Urdahl has three convictions from 2004 for assault with a deadly weapon, cutting a utility line and vandalism over $400, according to court records online.
The city has not responded to a Scanner inquiry about when Urdahl was hired or whether he is still employed by the city.
As of Wednesday, he remains in custody, according to jail records.
No bail amount was listed, and he is scheduled for a bail hearing Feb. 14.
Update, 4:15 p.m. The city spokesman said that Urdahl is now on paid administrative leave "as the city investigates alleged threats of workplace violence that led to his arrest by the Berkeley Police Department." Urdahl was hired by the city of Berkeley on Aug. 1, 2022, the spokesman said.
