WMATA police arrest man for threats against stations, vehicles

Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) police arrested Jerez Nehemiah Stone-Coleman on charges of making terroristic threats against the agency's stations, trains and buses, WMATA officials announced yesterday.

WMATA's Metro Transit Police Communications Division received 11 emergency telephone calls regarding bomb threats and/or hostage situations at or directed against WMATA between Dec. 12, 2014, and May 12 of this year, WMATA officials said.

Metro Transit Police responded to each, and found the threat information provided in the 911 calls to be "wholly false."

WMATA's police detectives used cellular phone records, digital video surveillance from stations and buses and telephone audio to identify Stone-Coleman as the perpetrator of the threats. A warrant for his arrest was issued on Tuesday.

"This case demonstrates the seriousness with which we take all threats and the lengths to which we will go to bring those responsible to justice," said Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik.