Man accused of calling in fake hostage threat

A homeless man is facing charges for allegedly falsely claiming that people were being held hostage.

North Greenbush Police received a call around 6:15 a.m. on Aug. 9 reporting an armed man was holding people against their will at a residence in the 500 block of Bloomingrove Drive. The caller disconnected. Police checked the address and found nothing.

Later that date, police arrested Richard Stone on Broadway in Rensselaer. Police said Stone is the person responsible for calling in the threat. Stone is also accused of falsely telling police on Aug. 7 that a person at Eagle Rock Apartments had a weapon of mass destruction. Police said he knew the victim.

Stone was charged with falsely reporting an incident. He was released and is due in court at a later date.