Crime & Safety

Search For Man Was Like 'Finding a Needle in the Haystack'

The following incident was written with reports provided by the Newport Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

After a day-long search conducted by local and state police, a 50-year-old man was arrested for making false 911 calls on Wednesday around 11:30 a.m. Timothy Dwyer, of an unknown address, was charged by the Newport Police Department for making false 911 calls, a misdemeanor. Once arraigned, he will be transferred to the Rhode Island Airport Police, for making a bomb threat, which is a felony. 

Police said on Tuesday, a man who identified himself as Christian Hamilton, said there was a bomb on a United Airlines plane headed to Nebraska. The caller told dispatch the bombers name, who was later identified as Dwyer's father-in-law. The caller said he was at an address on Prices Neck Cove. According to GPS information provided by 911, the call originated from an address on Morgan Street.  Police responded to both Prices Neck Cove and Morgan Street, but did not find the caller.   

On Tuesday around midnight, a man who again identified himself as Christian Hamilton, called 911 and said he was hit in the head near the monument at Brenton Point Park. Police were unable to find anyone in distress around the area. Dwyer allegedly called 911 shortly after and said he was on the rocks near the monument. Newport Fire and Police Departments checked the area again, but did not find anyone.    

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Because he was wanted by the Rhode Island Airport Police on a felony warrant for making a bomb threat, state police came down to assist with the search.   

“It was like finding a needle in the haystack,“ said Newport Lt. William Fitzgerald. “But we knew sooner or later that he would show up. We had previous contacts with him."

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Fitzgerald said they searched based on a radius provided by the phone company and tips from the family. Police said when he was found Wednesday morning in a car, he was too intoxicated to appear in court that day. 

Fitzgerald added public safety was never a concern. 

"Obviously if he were a threat there would had been communication to all media outlets. There was not an immediate threat," said Fitzgerald

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