State Police say a voicemail prompted an evacuation and bomb-unit search; no explosives were found.
BRIDGEWATER, N.Y. A 50-year-old Utica man faces two criminal charges after a threatening voicemail prompted the evacuation of Bridgewater’s municipal building, according to New York State Police. A search by the agency’s bomb unit and an explosives-detection dog found no explosives or suspicious devices. This incident is being referred to as the Bridgewater courthouse threat.
Police identified the defendant as Gary L. Schermerhorn in an Oct. 15 announcement. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Voicemail led to a precautionary evacuation
State Police in Marcy were notified about the message at about 8:21 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14. Court staff had discovered a voicemail left the previous evening that threatened to blow up the Town of Bridgewater courthouse, police said.
The court is inside the municipal building at 404 State Route 8. Police said the building was evacuated as a precaution before the Bomb Disposal Unit and its dog searched it. The agency reported that the search found neither explosives nor suspicious devices.
Two charges filed
Investigators identified Schermerhorn as the suspect and found him at a residence in Utica, where troopers arrested him, according to the release. Police listed these charges:
- Making a terroristic threat, a Class D felony.
- Second-degree aggravated harassment, a Class A misdemeanor.
State Police said Schermerhorn was taken to Oneida County Centralized Arraignment Court and then held at the county jail. That describes the custody decision reported in the Oct. 15 release, rather than a separately verified current jail status.
The announcement does not provide a motive, the defendant’s response to the allegations or a date for his next court appearance. It also does not specify how long the municipal building remained closed.
Source chart
| Primary source | What it establishes |
|---|---|
| New York State Police, Oct. 15, 2026 | The agency’s account of the voicemail, evacuation, search, arrest, charges and arraignment. |
Source checked Oct. 16, 2026. The graphics summarize the police account and do not depict the scene.
