Police: Ferndale Man Makes Boston Bomb Threat

A man called 911 for just a few seconds at 12:38 p.m. on Wednesday, and became the target of a swift investigation by detectives in Anne Arundel County.

"I'm from Boston and I'm going to blow some more stuff up," the caller said and immediately hung up, according to police. The message was a reference to the explosions at the Boston Marathon that killed three people and injured more than 100 on Monday.

After the dispatcher traced the phone call to a Ferndale home, police had the caller in custody within 10 minutes, and authorities are saying none of his statement appears to be true.

This incident comes after the Boston Bombings raised tension in Annapolis this week when there were two reports of suspicious packages—one at a bridge in town on Monday night, and one at a school on Tuesday.

The dispatcher who handled the call Wednesday began researching previous calls in the area as soon as the caller hung up, according to a press release from Anne Arundel County police. The dispatcher reportedly noted several emergency calls had been made from the same cell phone number on the 1300 block of Broadview Boulevard.

Officers encountered 59-year-old Ronald William Smith, who police said admitted to making the call and acknowledged the statement he made was not true.

Police charged Smith with providing false statement of a destructive device, telephone misuse and threatening arson.

Smith also told police he had another residence, on the 100 block of S. Calhoun Street in Baltimore City, and police searched both residences for evidence of bomb making. Detectives found no evidence or indication of bomb making at either residence, accord to police.

Detectives notified the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center, the intelligence unit and the fire marshal's office of the incident.

Police Chief Larry Tolliver commended the dispatchers and detectives involved, for quickly and effectively responding to the call.

"The Anne Arundel County Police Department and the law enforcement community as a whole will not tolerate hoaxes of this magnitude, especially in the sensitive climate that we find ourselves in as a nation," Tolliver said.

See more:

• Boston Bombings Raise Tension in Annapolis
• UPDATE: Instrument Case Draws Bomb Squad to Mills-Parole Elementary
• Bomb Squad Deems Suspicious Bag 'Safe' After Inspection