A Dukes County grand jury has indicted the Edgartown man accused of staging a bomb threat at the Vineyard Haven Steamship Authority terminal earlier this year. 

The grand jury returned indictments on several charges against David Capato on March 21. Mr. Capato, 57, is now charged with bomb threat with serious public alarm, possession of a firearm, improper storage of a firearm, disorderly conduct, witness intimidation and threat to commit a crime. 

Mr. Capato’s charges, which could carry a sentence of up to 21 years, will now be heard before the higher court and he is set to be arraigned on April 28. 

Mr. Capato previously pleaded not guilty to charges in Edgartown District Court after police said he threatened to “vaporize” police officers at the terminal on Jan. 16. 

Police said Mr. Capato originally called them to the terminal that evening, saying he found an unloaded gun. 

Once officers arrived, Mr. Capato put the firearm in a nearby USPS mailbox and retreated to his vehicle parked at the terminal, according to police reports. Mr. Capato, a longtime New York City police officer, allegedly told police he had explosives in his vehicle and would set them off if officers came closer. 

Police eventually got Mr. Capato to surrender and no one was injured during the tense standoff. 

After his initial not guilty plea, Mr. Capato was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for an evaluation. Mr. Capato was later released on bail, given that he take his medications, meet with the probation office weekly, get referred to a psychiatric professional and not leave the state without permission.