NEW HARTFORD, NY — The New York State Police have arrested a Utica man following an investigation into unauthorized and threatening radio transmissions made over a public safety radio frequency used by emergency responders in Herkimer County.
On Nov. 18, an employee of a State Police communications vendor reported hearing a male transmit threatening and racially charged statements over the Herkimer County law enforcement radio channel while monitoring activity in the Town of New Hartford.
The transmissions included comments about committing acts of violence.
Troopers assigned to SP Marcy Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted interviews, secured recordings of the transmissions, and identified the individual responsible as Stacey Snell, 53, of Utica.
Snell is known to law enforcement from prior investigations involving unauthorized radio transmissions.
On Nov. 26, investigators executed a temporary extreme risk protection order at Snell’s residence and recovered a handheld radio believed to have been used during the incident.
Snell was taken into custody without incident.
Snell was charged with making a terroristic threat, a class D felony; aggravated harassment in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor; and obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor.
He was processed at SP Marcy and arraigned in Oneida County CAP Court.
