EAST FISHKILL – A Wappingers Falls man has been arrested for falsely reporting a bomb scare in connection with a January 8 incident at the former IBM East Fishkill facility.
Several police agencies spent hours searching buildings at the business park now known as iPark.
An extensive search of the compound including buildings and vehicles was conducted by K9 units and officers from the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, State Police, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police, City and Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police, all of which were involved in searching the facility with no explosive devices being found. A canine surgeon from Hudson Highlands Veterinary Medical Group was also on scene to assist.
As a result of the investigation by the East Fishkill Police Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a suspect was quickly developed. On January 14, 53-year-old Town of Wappinger resident James Kempter was arrested and charged with the felony of falsely reporting an incident.
He was arraigned in the East Fishkill Justice Court and remanded to Dutchess County Jail with a bail bond of $10,000. Kempter is still in custody and is scheduled for a future appearance in the Town of East Fishkill Justice Court.
