Man Threatens To Set Fire To Hamptons Bank: Cops

HAMPTON BAYS, NY —A Riverhead man who threatened to set a Hampton Bays bank on fire was arrested Wednesday, police said.

According to Southampton Town Police, on Wednesday at 11:04 a.m. John Hudson, 55, of Riverhead made a call to the TD Bank central call center and threatened to set fire to the TD Bank located on Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays.

When bank employees were alerted to the threat, they started to take precautions by locking the doors — until they noticed that Hudson was already in the bank, police said.

Immediately, bank employees notified Southampton Town Police; officers and detectives arrived and after a brief investigation Hudson was taken into custody, police said.

Hudson had two legally possessed rifles in his vehicle along with ammunition, which have been secured at police headquarters, police said.

Hudson was arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat, a felony; he is scheduled to be arraigned at Southampton Town Justice Court Thursday morning, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Southampton Town Police Department's detective division at 631-702-2230 or the Crime Hotline at 631-728-3454. All calls will be kept confidential. Emails can also be sent to crimetips@southamptontownny.gov.