OXFORD – A Sherburne man identified as being responsible for damaging property and triggering a bomb scare in the Village of Oxford on Thursday was swiftly arrested and charged following an investigation into the incidents.
The Oxford Police Department arrested John Earl Bush Sr., 39, of Sherburne, for criminal mischief in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor. Bush also saw additional charges of loitering.
According to police, Bush damaged a glass door and flower pot at Bartle’s Pharmacy in the village around midnight on Thursday. Shortly after, police allege that Bush walked to the NBT Bank/Mirabito Quickway location and left a medium sized blue and black duffle bag along with a functioning cell phone on the sidewalk in a suspicious matter.
Police records indicate that an alert motorist reported the bag and cell phone at 5:53 a.m. to State Police who arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. Oxford Police Chief Richard Nolan and Chenango County Sheriff's Deputies assisted with the investigation and securing the scene while the New York State Troopers Bomb Disbursement Unit from Albany and State Police K-9 dog were en route.
NYSP Bomb Disbursement Unit utilized an x-ray infrared camera and a bomb-sniffing K-9 to inspect and analyze the suspicious bag to make the determination.
