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New Jersey Man Angry Over Days-Long Power Outage Threatens to Kidnap Utility Worker, Bomb Substation: Cops

Hundreds of thousands lost power when a nor'easter with vicious winds tore through the tri-state area last week

What to Know

  • Hundreds of thousands lost power when a nor'easter with vicious winds tore through the tri-state area last week
  • Cops say a New Jersey man who still hasn't had power restored threatened to kidnap a utility company worker and bomb a substation
  • A second major winter storm in a week could bring snowfall rates up to 2 inches an hour at times on Wednesday and significant accumulations

A New Jersey man whose home has been without power since last week's nor'easter threatened to kidnap a utility company employee and blow up a substation, authorities say.

Vernon police said 63-year-old Robert Winter was charged with making terroristic threats.

Authorities say Winter called Jersey Central Power & Light on Monday and quickly became agitated while speaking with a utility staffer. They say he threatened to kidnap an employee and then indicated that he knew how to make bombs and would blow up a substation so no one could have power.

Fourth Nor'easter in Three Weeks Rolls Into Tri-State, Once Again Buries Region and Knocks Out Power

A JCP&L security investigator soon contacted police and provided them with a recorded copy of the phone call.

Winter was arrested a short time later at his home. It wasn't known Tuesday if he's retained an attorney.

A second nor'easter is expected to batter the tri-state again this week, starting late Tuesday through Wednesday. Though the winds aren't expected to be as bad, many areas could see much more snow. 

Storm Team 4 Breaks Down Nor'easter Timing, Expectations

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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