A Steamship Authority passenger with a poor sense of humor and timing was arraigned Monday morning, following his arrest by Falmouth police Sunday. The man claimed he had a bomb in his vehicle during a security screening. No bomb was found, and the driver said his comment was a joke.
Falmouth police arrested Krzysztof Malz, 45, of New Britain, Conn., for making a threat concerning the location of dangerous items (explosives). He was held without bail and arraigned Monday in Falmouth District Court.
Mr. Malz plead not guilty. A judge continued the case to May 15. Bail was set at $2,500 and Mr. Malz was transfered to the Barnstable County Jail where he remained as of Wednesday afternoon.
At about 9:30 pm, Sunday, SSA Woods Hole terminal personnel contacted the Falmouth police and reported that a male driver traveling with one passenger and preparing to board a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard claimed, during a security screening, that he had a bomb in his vehicle, Capt. Douglas DeCosta of the Falmouth Police Department said in a press release.
Police interviewed Mr. Malz and his passenger. “The subjects claimed the bomb threat was just a joke,” police said.
Officers, with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad, searched the vehicle.
“Everybody handled it properly,” Wayne Lamson, SSA general manager told The Times in a telephone conversation Monday. “I appreciate the prompt response of terminal employees, the vessel captain and the Falmouth police.”
Mr. Lamson said the vehicle was stopped when the driver first checked in and the ferry was not delayed.