Man accused in UES hospital bomb scare claimed he was being held against his will.

A former employee of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center was arrested on Saturday after walking into the Upper East Side facility with bags that he claimed contained explosives. The individual, identified as 39-year-old Williams Johnson, engaged with hospital staff in a dramatic incident that has raised significant concerns about security protocol in healthcare settings.

Court documents reveal that Johnson entered the lobby of the cancer center on York Avenue near East 68th Street around noon, seeking access to the 14th floor. While interacting with a staff member, he was handed a Post-It note and asked to write down his doctor’s name. Instead of complying with the request, Johnson wrote an alarming message indicating he was being held against his will and that a life-threatening bomb was in his possession.

After returning the note to the hospital employee, Johnson placed a backpack beside him and dropped a white bag on the floor before fleeing the scene on foot. The message he left sparked immediate panic, leading to the evacuation of the hospital and surrounding buildings. This prompted a swift response from law enforcement, including the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit and Bomb Squad.

Upon arrival, bomb squad technicians examined both bags using X-ray technology. It was determined that the white bag contained wiring consistent with that of an explosive device. A high-pressure water device was subsequently deployed to neutralize the potential threat before it was confirmed that neither bag contained any actual explosives.

Johnson was taken into custody at the scene and charged with placing a false bomb, falsely reporting an incident, and making an aggravated threat of mass harm. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Monday and was held after bail was set at ,000 cash and 0,000 bond. He is scheduled to return to court on March 20.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center released a statement acknowledging the swift response of their security personnel and local law enforcement, stating that no injuries occurred during the incident. The community was notably relieved as officials declared the situation contained.

This incident follows closely on the heels of a separate bomb scare involving two teenage suspects inspired by ISIS who were apprehended after tossing homemade explosives at a protest near Gracie Mansion just the previous week. This sequence of events underscores growing security concerns in urban environments, particularly regarding the safety protocols in facilities catering to vulnerable populations.

Media News Source reports that these incidents have prompted ongoing discussions about security measures in public spaces and the need for vigilant responses to potential threats.