HONESDALE -- A Beach Lake man has been arrested after calling in a bomb threat to the Wayne County 911 Center on Wednesday, July 24.
According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by Lieutenant Robert Langman of the Honesdale Borough Police, Michael Donald Mowry, 41, has been charged with terrorist threats causing serious public inconvenience, a felony, and bomb threats, a misdemeanor.
Police say a man called 911 stating, "I have place bombs around Honesdale, especially the hospital area." The dispatchers were able to "ping" the phone, which resulted in a number previously used by Michael Mowry. An intensive, 50-minute manhunt, conducted by several law enforcement agencies, resulted in the capture of Mowry at approximately 11:50 am.
District Attorney Robinson stated, “I am impressed with the quick apprehension of Mowry for this senseless crime. While it appears that there were no actual bombs, threats of bombs cause an extremely serious public inconvenience regardless of whether or not there is an actual bomb. Law enforcement will continue to arrest, incarcerate, and convict those who make such threats.”
Robinson also said, “I want to commend the Honesdale Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, and Wayne County Detectives for their decisive and expeditious apprehension of Mowry. I especially want to recognize and thank the 911 dispatcher who handled this matter. She performed her duties in a calm, diligent, and professional manner.”
District Justice Linus Myers set bail at $25,000, and a preliminary hearing is set for July 31.