TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – A bomb threat was the reason the Poughkeepsie Galleria was evacuated on Sunday afternoon, according to the Town of Poughkeepsie police. The evacuation created a widespread series of rumors circulating throughout the community and complaints that the town police department declined to provide information to the public. The evacuation occurred on Sunday, October 29, at 3:00 p.m.
At the time, town police went to social media to acknowledge the evacuation, saying it was ordered “out of precaution” and asked the public to avoid the area. The advisory also noted that there was no threat to the public.
On Monday, October 30, the police eventually said that a “bomb threat” was the reason for the evacuation.
Relying on social media to keep the public informed, the town police admitted to being aware of the threat more than an hour before the evacuation was ordered.
A caller to the City of Poughkeepsie 911 center told the dispatcher that “bombs were placed at the Poughkeepsie Galleria.” The call was immediately transferred to the town police and officers were dispatched to the mall to investigate.
According to town police, the mall management requested that police K9 units capable of detecting explosives be used to investigate the matter after the evacuation. Police departments and K9 officers from the City of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Westchester County Police Department, and the New York City Department of Environmental Conservation Police responded and conducted a thorough bomb sweep of the mall.
The investigation was terminated at 6:26 p.m. with no explosive devices or other threats found.
The investigation is ongoing according to the Town of Poughkeepsie Police and no additional information was provided.
