Racine Man Accused of Taco Bell Bomb Threat

MILWAUKEE, WI — A Racine man has been arrested and charged after police say he threatened to deploy bombs at a Milwaukee Taco Bell.

On Thursday, Jan. 26, Milwaukee police officers were dispatched to Taco Bell, 2210 W. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee. Upon arrival, police made contact with the restaurant manager to determine what had happened.

According to authorities, the manager told police that she answered a phone call to the business and a man asked to speak to one of her employees. The manager told the man that the woman he was looking to talk to was not working at the time.

The man, later identified as Richard Curtis Jackson of Racine, called back and left a threatening message on the store answering machine. Jackson stated on the message that he was going to put a bomb at all three exits of the restaurant his criminal complaint stated.

Jackson has been charged with initiating a bomb scare and faces up to 18 months behind bars if he is convicted. He is currently being held in the Milwaukee County Jail on a $1,500 cash bond.

According to his criminal complaint, police followed up with the female employee that Jackson was trying to reach at the Taco Bell. The woman told police that she had recently ended a relationship with her child’s father, who she identified as Jackson. The woman stated that earlier in the day, her co-worker picked her up from her residence and gave her a ride to work.

Once at work, she said that Jackson called her multiple times in an attempt to speak with her. The woman stated that she and Jackson were not on good terms because the day before, Jackson physically assaulted her and took her vehicle. She was able to identify Jackson's voice on the voicemail left at Taco Bell, the criminal complaint stated.

According to court documents, Jackson has also been charged with strangulation, battery and disorderly conduct.

According to his criminal complaint, Milwuakee police reported that he subsequently arrested Jackson at Mt. Sinai. In a subsequent Mirandized interview conducted by police, Jackson stated that he called the Taco Bell where his child’s mother works in an attempt to speak to her. Jackson stated that Taco Bell employees kept telling him that his child’s mother was sent home or the employees hung up on him.

Jackson stated that ultimately he came frustrated and stated that he was going to burn the Taco Bell down. Jackson stated he wanted officer to apologize to Taco Bell for his actions, his complaint read.

>>> image via patch.com, image via Milwaukee County Jail