OMAHA, Neb. (AP) An investigator for a Nebraska law enforcement agency said Wednesday he is reviewing hundreds of confirmed or possible threats against an Omaha basketball official who worked Kentucky's NCAA Tournament loss to North Carolina.

 

Matt Barrall of the Sarpy County Sheriff's Department said he was in his fifth day working full-time on the case, and no end was in sight.

 

 

''We are taking this very, very - extremely - seriously,'' Barrall said. ''Some people might say, `Oh, it's just a basketball game.' But what if some mentally unstable person decides this is the way to make a name for himself?''

 

Referee John Higgins' roofing company was inundated with harassing emails, phone calls and voice mails - including death threats against Higgins and his family - starting shortly after Kentucky's 75-73 loss to North Carolina on March 26. Kentucky coach John Calipari criticized the officiating during his postgame news conference.

 

Barrall said he has identified 450 phone calls or messages and another 200-300 messages on social media or in emails that were ''of a threatening nature.''

 

Some of those met the criteria to be considered terroristic threats under Nebraska law. Barrall said he wouldn't disclose how many until after he reviews all the messages. Under Nebraska law, making terroristic threats is a felony punishable by up to three years in prison.

 

''This case offers up a lot of potential offenders, most of whom made a stupid decision in joining in on a prank, but serious injuries are possible and we should draw the line at the law,'' Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov wrote in an email to The Associated Press.

 

About 3,000 phone calls came into Higgins' office in the two days after the game, Barrall said. He estimated 75 percent were from Kentucky area codes.

 

Higgins' business also received a flood of bogus negative online reviews, causing his Google rating to plummet. Higgins' website got more than 28,000 hits in the days after the game, and he was forced to take his business' Facebook page down.

 

Barrall said he also has been listening to about five hours of audio from Kentucky sports radio shows with an ear for threatening comments toward Higgins, whether by hosts or callers. Barrall also continues to monitor Kentucky fan websites.

 

Investigator eyeing 1

Interesting. I hope the sheriff pursues the worst of these offenders and sets a standard against this type of behavior.

 

Question for the law enforcement experts - since this is across state lines, do the federal authorities have to get involved? Although, is there any federal law violated here? How do you prosecute across state line behavior? Extradition?

Interesting. I hope the sheriff pursues the worst of these offenders and sets a standard against this type of behavior.

 

Question for the law enforcement experts - since this is across state lines, do the federal authorities have to get involved? Although, is there any federal law violated here? How do you prosecute across state line behavior? Extradition?

 

 

I agree. I hope he can track down some of these people. Maybe then some will think twice(or , at least, once) before doing this crap again.

No big deal.

Alright, alright,alright. Sounds like Barney is on the job!

Good.

I agree. I hope he can track down some of these people. Maybe then some will think twice(or , at least, once) before doing this crap again.

 

They won't but if they'll just hand games to Kentucky like they do Carolina there won't be an issue

I hope they prosecute as many as possible. At times I hate being a UK fan and it's not due to the athletes.

Alright, alright,alright. Sounds like Barney is on the job!

 

Who knows, Barney may even be snooping around BGP.

Who knows, Barney may even be snooping around BGP.

 

Yep. Barney always gets his man.

You think he is going to nail Otis or Ernest T?

You think he is going to nail Otis or Ernest T?

 

Possibly. But I would rather he went after an aunt Bee type. Those are the scary ones.

I always thought Howard Sprague was the person I would worry the most about in Mayberry. Something sneaky looking about that guy.

Well crap, I'm going to have to report my phone stolen before they catch me! :lol2:

Awesome! I hope they are all caught