Passenger Sent Text Message Bomb Threat On New Haven Line Metro-North Train: DA

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — A Metro-North train evacuation and search earlier this year was the result of a disgruntled passenger, according to MTA police.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that a Bronx woman was indicted for falsely reporting a bomb threat aboard the New Haven Line Metro-North Railroad train traveling to Connecticut.

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Albertyna Mendoza, 27, was arraigned Thursday for felony falsely reporting.

She pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance. Mendoza is due back in court on Sept. 17.

"The defendant's alleged reckless actions caused great fear and alarm and created a significant inconvenience for hundreds of Metro-North commuters who were forced to evacuate the train," Cacace said. "This behavior is completely unacceptable, which is why tremendous efforts were undertaken by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Police Department and my office to identify, locate, and arrest this defendant."

On May 3, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Mendoza was on a New Haven-bound Metro-North train through Westchester County when she sent a series of text messages to 911 Emergency Operations falsely reporting that a man was carrying a bomb in his hand aboard the train.

As a result, the train was halted at the City of Rye Metro-North Station, where the MTA Police Department responded and evacuated all passengers and crew. The train was then swept by police and K-9s.

The train was later cleared after no safety threat was found. No one matching the description of the man described in the messages to 911 was found or seen on video surveillance, according to investigators.

All passengers and crew were transferred to a second train to continue their travel.

"This caused a significant inconvenience for riders simply trying to get home, and once the report was determined to be unfounded, our detectives launched an investigation and, with assistance from prosecutors, identified the individual alleged to be responsible for disrupting thousands of commutes," MTA Chief of Police Thomas J. Taffe said. "We appreciate the Westchester District Attorney making clear that this reckless conduct leads to serious consequences."

Mendoza was arrested on July 30, following an investigation by the MTA Police Department, with assistance from the Westchester County District Attorney's Office.