Police arrested a man late Wednesday evening after he allegedly threatened officers with explosives and several guns, which were located in his vehicle parked at the Steamship Authority terminal in Vineyard Haven.
Tisbury police arrested David Capato, 56, and he was charged in Edgartown District Court on Thursday on terrorism and firearm charges.
Tisbury police said they were called to the ferry terminal at 9 p.m., for a report that someone had found an unloaded revolver with a lock on it, Tisbury police said in a statement.
Mr. Capato, who had called police, allegedly put a gun in a U.S. postal service mailbox near the terminal before retreating to his vehicle. Officers tried to get more information from Mr. Capato, but he became uncooperative and said he had guns and explosives in his vehicle, which was parked at the drop-off area in front of the terminal.
During his arraignment Thursday, assistant district attorney John Wheatley said Mr. Capato told officers that he was a former New York cop, and had worked with disposing of explosive ordinances in the past. A spokesperson for the New York Police Department confirmed Mr. Capato retired from the force in 2011.
Tisbury police said he later threatened to “vaporize” anyone who came near the vehicle, and officers cleared the terminal, parking lot and the incoming ferry.
Negotiators talked to Mr. Capato for a couple of hours to get him to peacefully come out of his vehicle and he was taken into custody. No one was hurt.
Mr. Capato was wearing a body camera, and he had been walking around the terminal before the incident, according to police.
The state police bomb squad was called in to aid with the investigation, and it was later found that there were no explosives in his vehicle, or anywhere else in the port, Tisbury police said.
An M4 assault rifle was recovered from Mr. Capato’s vehicle and police did find a gun inside the USPS mailbox near the terminal, police said. Police also found large bags of wood pellets and a can of gasoline in the vehicle, Mr. Wheatley said.
In all, Mr. Capato was charged with making a bomb threat with serious public alarm, possession of a firearm, improper storage of a firearm, witness intimidation, threat to commit a crime, disorderly conduct and assault with a dangerous weapon.
He is being represented by defense attorney Robert Moriarty.
Mr. Capato appeared in court, wearing a black quarter-zip sweater and jeans. He said little during the hearing, only telling Judge Joseph Hurley to not worry about the pronunciation of Mr. Capato’s last name.
Judge Hurley ordered Mr. Capato be held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing with the court on Tuesday.
Tisbury police said the investigation is ongoing with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Police declined to release reports connected to the incident due to the ongoing investigation. The Steamship Authority referred questions on the incident to Tisbury police.
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