STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) -- A volunteer firefighter has been arrested after explosives were found in his carry-on bag at Westchester County Airport.
Lt. Frank Docimo of the Turn of River Fire Department was arrested Monday afternoon after federal inspectors found the explosives as he went through a checkpoint before boarding a plane, officials said.
Westchester County police officials said they found no links to terrorism and said Docimo likely was carrying the explosives as part of his work as a security consultant.
''I'm 100 percent sure when all the facts are out, people will see this is all a big mistake,'' Turn of River Chief Ray Whitbread said.
Docimo teaches security classes at businesses and police departments around the country, Whitbread said.
Docimo had a ''highly explosive'' inch-long detonation cord in the bag, Lt. Henry Cetina of the Westchester County Police Department said. He was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and possession of explosives without a license.
Docimo was released Monday after posting $2,500 bond.
Information from: The Advocate
Firehouse.com Update:
According to The Journal News, Frank Docimo is employed by an international firm called Smith's Detection, which sells military and nonmilitary explosive detection equipment, and was on his way to St. Louis to demonstrate a piece of equipment.
According to a press release from his attorney, Docimo appeared in court in Port Chester, New York Wednesday morning and the matter has been continued until May 2005.
"Mr. Docimo is completely innocent of any wrong doing and we are convinced that once all of the facts are put before the Court, Mr. Docimo will be cleared of the pending charges," attorney Michael J. Cacace wrote.
According to Cacace, Docimo was unaware that he was carrying the explosive material.
"A small amount of explosive material was in a training kit," Cacace wrote. "That material was placed there by someone other than Mr. Docimo during a previous training session, and he was unaware the material was in the case when going through airport security."
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