COLONIE, NY — A 26-year-old man was arrested after allegedly placing a fake bomb in a Little Library at a town park.
Brandon J. Arsenault, of Cohoes, was taken into custody at his residence during the early morning hours of May 17.
The Colonie Police Department responded to Colonie Mohawk River Park at 71 Schermerhorn Road on May 16 for a report of a suspicious device placed in a Little Library book nook on the playground.
A Little Library is a public, neighborhood-based book exchange operating on a “take a book, share a book” honor system where anyone can borrow and return books.
Police investigators located the device, described as a water bottle containing a liquid, a mason jar top with battery terminal, battery, and red and green wires.
The New York State Police Bomb Disposal Unit responded to the park and determined the device to be inoperable and incapable of causing harm.
A concerned citizen who observed Arsenault placing the device reported the activity to police.
Arsenault was charged with placing a false bomb or hazardous substance in the first degree, a felony.
He was arraigned in Colonie Town Court and remanded to the Albany County Correctional Facility.
The case remains active as investigators work to determine Arsenault’s motivations.
The Colonie Police Department is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the investigation.
Anyone with information about the incident or Arsenault is asked to contact Colonie Police Investigations at 518-783-2754.
