Man Accused Of Threatening Bridgeport Port Jefferson Ferry: Police

BRIDGEPORT, CT— A 31-year-old West Haven man was arrested Wednesday after police said he made a bomb threat toward vessels operated by the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, according to Bridgeport police.

Trevon Phidd, a food services employee of the steamboat company, was taken into custody about 2 hours after the threat was made, based on investigative work by the Bridgeport Police Joint Terrorism Taskforce, FBI and other state and federal agencies.

He was charged with:

• Act of Terrorism (2 counts)
• Misuse of 9-1-1 System (2 counts)
• Breach of Peace in the 2nd Degree (2 counts)

Authorities were alerted to the threat against the vessels at about noon, according to police. Three boats make up the ferry fleet. Phidd worked at the Ferry Road ferry terminal, police said.

"Uniformed officers responded in both Connecticut and New York, immediately assessed the situation, and notified the U.S. Coast Guard," wrote Bridgeport Police Captain Kevin Gilleran in a statement. "On September 6, 2022, a similar bomb threat was made against the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company. Several local, state, and federal agencies have taken active roles in assisting with the investigation."

The three vessels were checked out, and no explosives were found. Interruption to ferry service was minimal on Wednesday, police said, but the Sept. 6 incident temporarily disrupted service.

Phidd was held in lieu of bail of $500,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

Anyone with any additional information about the incident is urged to contact Bridgeport Police Detective Cronin at 203-581-5204, or leave an anonymous tip via the Bridgeport Police Tips Line at 203-576-TIPS (8477).