Possible Threat Against Sangertown Mall Posted Online
By: Administrator
Updated: July 27, 2012
On
Wednesday afternoon the New Hartford Police Department was contacted by
Sangertown Mall authorities in regards to a posting that was brought to
their attention
on an on-line blog. The blog was discussing the Colorado shooting when a
participant of the blog posted "Next attack will be in NY at Sangertown
Mall".
The
New Hartford Police Department is currently working with Yahoo, the
site of the blog, in an attempt to identify the person responsible for
posting the comment.
On
Thursday morning a message was sent on Twitter stating "In case you
don't know already, DON'T GO TO SANGERTOWN MALL TODAY!" It is unknown
if the threats are
connected at this time.
These
threats are being taken seriously and are being actively investigated.
Uniform patrols have been increased and Officers have been placed in
Sangertown Mall.
Outside agencies including the FBI have been advised of the
investigation.
Threats
of this nature are in violation of the New York State Penal Law and
considered to be a terroristic threat, a class D Felony.
One eyewitness tells us that he noticed multiple shops closed for the day and the mall looked like a "Ghost Town."
Sangertown states that the mall will not close early and all operations will continue as usual. They do not anticipate the incident happening.
Sangertown officials have confirmed they have heard the news and are confident that measures in place will help prevent anything from occurring.
One eyewitness tells us that he noticed multiple shops closed for the day and the mall looked like a "Ghost Town."
Sangertown states that the mall will not close early and all operations will continue as usual. They do not anticipate the incident happening.
Sangertown officials have confirmed they have heard the news and are confident that measures in place will help prevent anything from occurring.
Tonight the community is responding and some are saying word spread quickly of the scare. Mall goer Abe Immerman says, "The women that was cutting my hair her son called asking what was going on and then her daughter called, what was going on. And next think you know people are saying that there was a bomb threat or something to that effect against Sangertown Mall and now people are starting to get out of here."
Nate Hudson of Richfield Springs says, "No idea to be honest with you I was just walking through and saw a couple of normal Utica City cops and I don't know it was out of the ordinary for me."
Christine Marcin, "Ahh... the usual what is going on in the world, but I had things to do today and they weren't going to stop me."
