San Antonio-area man arrested on suspicion of planning attack on the Texas Capitol

CONVERSE, Texas - A Converse man was arrested for planning a violent attack on the Texas State Capitol on Oct. [KSAT 12]

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A Converse resident was arrested early Wednesday morning following law enforcement receiving credible information about a plan to carry out violence at the Texas Capitol, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Benny Caldera Jr., 40, was taken into custody around 3 a.m. at his residence near San Antonio after authorities received a tip Tuesday evening. The DPS, working alongside FBI agents, acted swiftly on the information about an alleged plot scheduled for Oct. 1.

Caldera faces felony charges of making a terroristic threat directed at a public servant, a third-degree felony offense. He was transported to the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, where he remains held on a $75,000 bond and has not been released pending further legal proceedings.

While authorities confirmed they had received information suggesting a violent attack was being planned, they declined to release specific details about the alleged plot, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. The Texas Department of Public Safety notified state lawmakers about both the threat and the arrest early Wednesday morning to keep legislative leadership informed.

Gov. Greg Abbott responded to the arrest in a social media statement, saying that "Texas will NOT tolerate threats of violence against our Capitol." The governor's office noted that state DPS received assistance from federal authorities in apprehending the suspect.

Despite the situation, the Texas Capitol continued regular operations throughout Wednesday. Senate Secretary Patsy Spaw announced that heightened security measures would remain in place during the investigation. DPS officials stated there was no indication of any active threat to the building at the time of the arrest.

The Texas Department of Public Safety emphasized the importance of public vigilance and provided multiple reporting channels for suspicious activity. Residents can submit information through the iWatchTexas mobile application, the online portal at iwatchtx.org, or by calling 844-643-2251.