Dell staff jailed in "masked gunmen" incident

Disastrous PR stunt lands staff in jail on deadly conduct charge

Two Dell sales staff were thrown in jail earlier this week after an ill-judged promotional stunt involving "masked gunmen" went badly awry.

The incident took place on Monday when police in Round Rock were called to Dell's headquarters in the Texan city following numerous emergency calls and the activation of panic alarms. The first call was made at 10.45am, when an employee reported the presence of "masked and armed men" at Dell HQ.

The local police department then deployed "more than two dozen officers", who took measures in accordance with "extreme risk protocols and contingencies".

After gaining access to source of the disturbance at 10.56am, the lawmen quickly ascertained that "two members of a small sales team had enacted an in-house product-promotion scheme, with little or no notice to co-workers, internal security or Dell executives".

The idea was reportedly to promote the Dell Streak 7 tablet PC, and its recently announced integration capabilities with the Harley Davidson Road King motorcycle.

The stunt involved one man - 48-year-old Bryan Chester - allegedly donning dark clothing and a skull-pattern mask, while brandishing "small metallic items". Chester proceeded to "rush through densely staffed areas while yelling 'go to the lobby'," according to police.

As "heavily armed officers" searched for him, they reportedly ran into Dan Rawson, 36, who identified himself as "management". The police claim Rawson "refused to comply with officers' directions or provide officers with the location or identity of his cohorts until other colleagues intervened". Rawson was subsequently arrested and charged with interfering with public duties.

Chester was reportedly "apologetic and cooperative" and swiftly "explained the actions were part of an internal product promotion that was kept secret from nearly all employees, but did not involve any weapons or threats of any kind". He was later arrested and charged with deadly conduct. Both he and Rawson were remanded at Williamson County jail and police indicated that "the incident remains under review".

A statement added:"Police confirmed Chester's account and were able to determine the incident was simply a poorly timed series of misperceptions and miscommunications, compounded by Rawson's unwillingness to cooperate with police and refusal to comply with police instructions."