A 57-year-old man has been charged after falsely claiming to have set up an explosive device in his hotel room in Niagara Falls, Ontario, according to police. The incident occurred on Friday, prompting an emergency response and the evacuation of nearby rooms as a precautionary measure.
Authorities received information that a man staying in one of the hotel rooms walked into a neighboring room and informed the occupants that he had set up a bomb. In response, emergency crews swiftly arrived at the hotel located on Portage Road between Chippawa Parkway and Front Street just before 9am.
The immediate area was cordoned off and nearby rooms were evacuated to ensure the safety of all guests. The man's room was secured and members of the Niagara police's Explosive Disposal Unit were called in to investigate the claim. Meanwhile, the suspect was located approximately one kilometer away from the hotel and was subsequently arrested by law enforcement.
After an extensive search and investigation that lasted nearly four hours, police confirmed that no explosive devices were found in the man's room. As a result, the hotel was deemed clear and safe allowing guests to return to their rooms. Road closures were lifted and normalcy was restored in the area.
The suspect has been identified as Paul Anthony Paparoni of Niagara Falls. He has been charged with mischief and is currently in custody awaiting a video bail hearing scheduled for Saturday. The motive behind the false bomb threat remains unclear at this time. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward and contact the Niagara police at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1022200. Alternatively, individuals can provide information anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
No further information is available at this time - Man Charged After False Bomb Threat at Niagara Falls Hotel.