FDNY Fire Marshals Arrest Suspect For Dozens Of False Alarm Calls In Queens

March 24, 2016

Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro announced today that Fire Marshals have arrested a suspect in connection with multiple false alarms at 82-24 135th Street in Queens.

Kenneth Campbell, 47, of Queens was arrested for making 36 false alarm calls to apartments throughout the building located at 82-24 135th Street in Queens, during February and March of this year.  The false alarm calls ranged from gas leaks, electrical fires and bomb scares to calls for emergency medical assistance. Many of these false incidents elicited responses from multiple agencies, including FDNY, NYPD and utility companies.

"Reporting a false alarm is a senseless crime which deliberately wastes Department resources and needlessly puts the lives of New Yorkers and FDNY members at risk," said Commissioner Nigro. "I applaud the investigative work of our Fire Marshals to track down and apprehend the individual responsible for these malicious and dangerous fictitious incidents."

Mr. Campbell is expected to be charged with making terroristic threats, falsely reporting an incident, and aggravated harassment. During the investigation Fire Marshals worked closely with the Queens District Attorney's Office, which will prosecute the case. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

CONTACT: FRANCIS X. GRIBBON & ELISHEVA ZAKHEIM (718)999-2056