Hate Crime Charges After Yorktown Family Targeted With Hoax 911 Report: NYSP

CORTLANDT, NY — A Cortlandt man was arrested after he falsely reported an online threat, according to New York State Police.

State police say that they received a call from an unidentified man who claimed to have seen a threatening social media post and identified a Mohegan Lake address and resident as being responsible. The caller then hung up before providing complete identifying information.

An investigation included interviews and a review of cellular devices and social media accounts, but found no evidence supporting the caller's allegations.

Investigators believe the 911 report was knowingly false and made to harass a family at the address.

State police say the suspect was found to have a documented history of harassment involving the same family, and was subject to an active full stay-away order of protection.

On Jan. 15, investigators conducted a search of 64-year-old John Pinchbeck's Cortlandt home, and seized electronic devices.

Troopers from the Cortlandt barracks arrested Pinchbeck and charged him with felony second-degree aggravated harassment (hate crime), felony third-degree falsely reporting an incident (hate crime), and misdemeanor second-degree criminal contempt.

He was arraigned in the Town of Cortlandt Court and remanded to the Westchester County Jail. Pinchbeck is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 21.