Police say a Mastic Beach man was arrested and accused of bringing real explosives into Stony Brook University Hospital.

Police say Robert Roden, 33, brought three homemade explosives into the hospital Tuesday night, leading the Suffolk Bomb Squad to be called to the scene.

"Using cameras and robotics, we were able to remove the device, and we were able to analyze it yesterday, where we determined that it did have the ability to be energized and exploded," says Suffolk Police Department Chief Gerard Gigante.

Police say two floors at the hospital, including the ER, were evacuated for multiple hours. No one was injured.

Officials say the suspect also wore a tactical vest with several loaded magazines in its pockets, had a hatchet in his bag and appeared to be carrying a gun.

"In his waistband, he had a BB gun pistol. It was loaded with 9 mm ammunition, but it was a BB gun," says Suffolk Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart.

Investigators have not disclosed a motive, but did say Roden was at the hospital to accompany his male partner, who had been admitted into the ER.

As the case was unfolding, authorities released inconsistent information. On Wednesday morning, university police said the suspect's backpack had been rendered safe. Later that night, Suffolk investigators confirmed that the explosives the suspect had were real.

Police also searched Roden's Mastic Beach home in conjunction with the FBI and the ATF, where they allegedly found more explosives.

Roden has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal contempt, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. He is being held on $1 million bond.

 

 

Police: Mastic Beach man brought 3 explosive devices into Stony Brook University Hospital