Round Rock Man Threatened 'Suicide By Cop': Docs

ROUND ROCK, TX — A Round Rock man who was arrested this week after officials say they found homemade improvised bombs in his home threatened to burn down his house and commit suicide just days after authorities served him divorce papers in January, court documents show.

On Tuesday, the Williamson County Sheriff's Office said it arrested 47-year-old John Christopher Crawson, accusing him of making terroristic threats after discovering homemade improvised explosive devices in his home in the 2500 block of of Santa Barbara Loop in Round Rock.

More on the story: Bombs Found In Home Near Round Rock, One Arrested: Authorities

Lt. Jason Braeutigam, a detective for the criminal investigations unit for the department, said at a news conference on Tuesday officials issued a warrant for Crawson after it was reported he had made a terroristic threat toward a family member in mid-January.

Braeutigam said when officers arrived at the scene, they searched Crawson's home and discovered "several" improvised explosive devices. Six nearby homes were evacuated during the search. No injuries were reported.

'Drop the divorce or suicide and house destruction'

While officials have yet to announce a motive for Tuesday's incident, in a separate incident on Jan. 18, Crawson had made numerous threats towards his wife and law enforcement days before his arrest, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Patch Thursday from Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick.

The affidavit said a Williamson County Deputy was dispatched to a home in the 2500 block of Santa Barbara Loop on Jan. 18 for a suicidal threat call.

The deputy said in the report Crawson's wife wanted authorities to be aware of "concerning statements made by her husband." The two had been communicating by text when Crawson told his wife he'd burn their home to the ground and "burn himself alive" if she didn't stop her divorce filing, the affidavit says.

Williamson County probate records show Crawson's wife had filed for divorce on Dec. 21 and two days later filed a restraining order against him. Records show he was served with the court papers on Jan. 13.

The court papers said the deputy had documented text messages from Crawson that he sent to his wife. The woman had forwarded the messages to officials.

The messages Crawson sent involved destroying his wife's personal belongings and "torching" their home, according to the affidavit. Crawson even threatened to kill authorities, the affidavit reports.

“...if the authorities show up here even better. We can just speed this all along. I will light it up with me in it and it will all be done," Crawson said in a text message reported in the court documents. “... There are two options only at this point. Drop the divorce or suicide and house destruction..."

Crawson said in a text message he had planned to intentionally set the couple's home on fire Wednesday night, the affidavit says. The date was the same day of the appointed court hearing for the divorce, according to the report.

Crawson said he changed his life insurance policy so his wife could not get "Jack s---!" when he killed himself, the affidavit says.

“... This ends in death and destruction,” Crawson said in the text message cited in the affidavit.

On Feb. 1, the deputy reported Crawson's wife told authorities he sent a group text message to friends and other family members, according to the affidavit. The message described placing his wife's belongings on the bed, covering them in diesel fuel and adding the fuel in each room before setting the couple's home ablaze, the affidavit says.

According to the affidavit, Crawson bragged in the message he had a small arsenal of weapons including ammo, grenades filled with BB pellets, nails, extra screws and small bolts.

The court document said Crawson's wife reported he had numerous firearms scattered throughout their home, including, handguns, shotguns and rifles.

"I will take out as many as I can defending my house and I know that it ends with me being shot (suicide by police). I'm good with it!,” Crawson said in the message, according to the affidavit.

The deputy said in the court document no in-person contact had been made on Jan. 19 since Crawson made threats against law enforcement. The official did attempt to contact Crawson by email.

On Feb. 2, Crawson replied to the deputy's email asking the official to not contact him again, the affidavit says. The deputy reports Crawson said in the message that a peaceful resolution is possible if his wife dropped the divorce proceedings, the affidavit says.

On Feb. 22, a Williamson County Judge issued a warrant for Crawson's arrest. Another official alerted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Austin Bomb Squad, and the Williamson County Precinct 4 Constable's Office to assist with the ongoing investigation.

Crawson was later arrested on Tuesday.

Nicole Strong, a spokesperson for ATF's Houston division, told Patch the agency had not filed any federal charges as of Wednesday. She did not clarify if the agency plans to file any additional charges.

As of 2:45 p.m. Thursday, Crawson was still booked in Williamson County Jail and faces a third-degree felony charge of terroristic threat against a public servant, cause a specific person to fear serious bodily injury or death and influence the conduct or activities of a branch or agency of the federal government, the state, or a political subdivision of the state. His bond is set at $250,000.

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