A New York state worker allegedly made threats against President Obama, Gov. Cuomo, the NYPD commissioner and his co-workers on his Facebook page, and when he failed to show up for work this week, police searched his home and found three guns, NBC 4 New York has learned.
Saiban Mahamooth, a 69-year-old engineer with the Department of Environmental Conservation, was arrested in the middle of the night at his New Jersey home, law enforcement officials said Wednesday.
He faces charges of making a terroristic threat and aggravated harassment. Bail was set at $100,000; it was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer.
According to officials, the NYPD began investigating after the threatening posts were reported to them on Sunday. His coworkers told police that Mahamooth's behavior in the last week had grown erratic.
Police decided to seek a warrant for his arrest, and went to his workplace in Queens to arrest him on Tuesday, but he did not show up for work, officials said.
They went to his home in New Jersey and arrested him. At the home they found three handguns, which he owned legally.
Law enforcement officials stressed to NBC 4 New York Wednesday that threats toward the president and other officials are not uncommon, adding that the reported erratic behavior and threats against co-workers are what made them act.
Local
The DEC said it has taken steps "to increase security and prevent his access to the building." The agency declined to comment further.
