Man found with bomb :: Today :: PostStar.com

Man found with bomb :: Today :: PostStar.com

HUDSON FALLS -- Police arrested a man early Saturday who had a bomb in a backpack that he may have been preparing to use at a school in the area, officials said.

The man, identified as Jason A. Babson, 29, of 13 School St., Hudson Falls, was found with an explosive device just before 3 a.m. Saturday, said Hudson Falls Police Chief Randy Diamond.



It consisted of a metal can with explosive powder inside and a fuse, Diamond said. Babson had it in a backpack that he had when police chased and caught him this morning, the chief said.

The State Police bomb squad X-rayed the device and confirmed it was an explosive device, Diamond said. The squad took possession of the device and took it to Albany for analysis, authorities said.

The FBI was notified of the incident and is conducting its own investigation into the matter.

The suspect was arrested in woods near Martindale Terrace after police got calls from people in the area that a man was walking down the street acting strangely, police said.

Officers arrived in the area and the man fled into the woods but was quickly caught, Diamond said.

Hudson Falls Police Detective Scott Gillis said residents of the area where Babson was walking believed he made a comment about using a bomb at a school.

Babson works as a geologist for a company that designs nuclear power plants and had recently been working in the United Arab Emirates, Gillis said. He was scheduled to return to the Middle East this weekend, police said.

He would not talk to police for several hours after he was taken into custody, but Gillis said he eventually told police he had been drinking and made the bomb to detonate for a Fourth of July celebration. He was "very distraught" over personal issues, the detective said.

Gillis said Babson told police he changed his mind about detonating it and instead was on his way to the Feeder Canal to take it apart and dispose of it when he was arrested.

Police, though, said he had a number of explanations for citizens he came in contact with and police. Among them was a remark about a school, Gillis and Diamond said.

"He's given us several different stories. One of his claims was he was trying to get rid of it," Diamond said. "He's been rambling, making different statements."

Babson was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, and the misdemeanor of possession of fireworks. Gillis said he had a small amount of conventional fireworks in a backpack with the homemade bomb.

Babson was arraigned in Village Court and sent to Washington County Jail without bail.

Police searched his home and found no other dangerous weapons or explosives, according to Diamond.

"Luckily we got it when we did and no one was hurt," the chief said. "It was good work by the officers because who knows what he (Babson) was going to do."

Diamond said Hudson Falls Police patrolmen Brandon Kinderman, David Willis and Desmond Lyons made the arrest.