Aera beefs up building security
| Friday, Mar 06 2009 01:14 AM
Last Updated Wednesday, Mar 25 2009 06:17 PM
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Aera Energy has set up very public security with cement barricades and security guards in response to threats from former employee Clyde Bivins. The security was put in place after Bivins on Feb. 17 was seen driving recklessly in Aera's parking lot at Old River Road and Ming Avenue before he crashed into a curb near the State Farm Insurance Building and was taken into custody. He has since been released from jail after $257,500 bail was posted in three separate cases.
Aera Energy is taking no chances with Clyde Bivins, a former employee who has reportedly threatened other employees and recently drove recklessly in the firm's parking lot.
In response, Aera's big, red brick building on the corner of Ming Avenue and Old River Road is swarming with security guards — some of whom are armed — and all building entrances are blocked with concrete highway divider blocks.
The guards went on heightened alert Tuesday night after Bivins was released from jail on $257,500 bail.
Aera spokeswoman Susan Hersberger said the "actions we've taken are to protect the building and the employees."
She noted the business has obtained restraining orders against Bivins, ordering him to stay at least 100 yards away from the property, and officials have met with neighboring businesses to alert it of the possible danger.
"We don't know what might happen, if anything," Hersberger said.
Bivins could not be found for comment Thursday. He is due in court Friday on one of two criminal cases he faces — felony charges of threats with intent to terrorize and making a false bomb report in an incident with Memorial Hospital.
He's also charged in a misdemeanor case of drunken driving, hit-and-run and violating a restraining order in the Aera Energy incident, which ended in the State Farm Insurance parking lot where his car became disabled after hitting a curb.
Bivins in a KGET-TV interview said that he had a lot of fun driving around in the Aera parking lot.
He said his dispute with the company is he's not getting enough long-term disability payments, faulting the insurance firm Aera hired.
