Roy Robson, 35, of Ambler.
An Ambler man accused of calling in a bomb threat against the SEPTA Regional Rail Line in November 2022 is back behind bars after he allegedly phoned in a threat to a district judge’s office while out on bail.
Roy Robson, 35, is facing new charges of felony terroristic threats, misdemeanor harassment and terroristic threats, in connection with a February incident in Jenkintown Borough.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Robson called a threat into the local district court in Jenkintown Borough at 3:11 p.m. on Feb. 17. Police said Robson spoke to a female court clerk and said “You are all n------s and I am going to kill you,” which prompted an evacuation of the building and the closure of the court for the rest of the day.
Robson was taken into custody several days later, and taken to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash bail. Stipulations on Robson’s second bail required that, should bail be posted, Robson would have to avoid contact with members of the court and their families, as well as undergo a mental health assessment/ level of care assessment and comply with level three monitoring.
Those stipulations became moot last week, though, as Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Risa Ferman granted a request from prosecutors to revoke Robson’s bail on the charges in Lansdale Borough. In doing so, Robson will await the resolution of both cases while remanded to the county jail.
Lansdale Borough Police began investigating a bomb threat at the West Main Street Transportation Center on Nov. 7, 2022, just after 3 p.m., after Montgomery County Dispatch allegedly received a call from an unknown male — later identified as Robson — claiming he was on a northbound train to Lansdale with a bomb and he intended to blow the train up.
According to the criminal complaint, Robson told county dispatch “I am on the train from Fernrock to approaching Lansdale, and I have a bomb and I’m going to blow the train up.”
As a result of the threat, all passengers were evacuated from the train as it arrived at the Lansdale Train Station. All other SEPTA trains with passengers on board were also taken out of service due to the threat, police said.
Investigators said they traced the call to a location in Upper Dublin Township, and upon hearing a recording of the 911 call, an officer with the Upper Dublin Police Department identified the voice as Robson and supplied Lansdale Police with an image of Robson for reference. Robson’s vehicle was then located at the North Hills Train Station, and police were provided a description of Robson’s clothing along with information showing he was likely a passenger on a train approaching the Pennbook Train Station, according to charging documents.
At approximately 4:04 p.m., the train arrived at the Pennbrook Train Station, at which point police located Robson and took him into custody, the report states.
Following an extensive search of two trains — aided by members of the Montgomery County Bomb Squad, neighboring police canine units, and statements made by Robson — investigators ultimately determined there was no bomb on either train.
While being interviewed by investigators, Robson stated that he initially wanted to go to the hospital for a mental health issue, but his mother would not provide a ride and when he attempted to board a SEPTA train, the conductor denied him entry, police said. Robson said he became angry and called in the bomb threat, then stayed on location and boarded the next train, according to the complaint.
Robson stated he knew it was “not right,” but he was frustrated and was trying to get to the hospital, the report states.
Court documents show Robson was arraigned the following morning by District Judge Andrea Duffy, and he was subsequently released on $20,0000 unsecured bail. Judge Duffy relayed to North Penn Now that while the bail setting states “unsecured,” she ordered that Robson undergo a level of care assessment and he would only be released according to the terms of the assessment. If the assessment recommended outpatient care, Robson was also prohibited from using SEPTA as transportation.
Court records show Robson waived his December 2022 preliminary hearing, and a formal arraignment at county court was held in January. No further updates were available.
A date for the preliminary hearing on the new charges has not yet been set.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
See also:
Lansdale Bomb Threat Suspect Claimed He Was Having Mental Health Issues, Court Documents Show
Suspect in Custody Following Bomb Threat on Septa Regional Rail Line in Lansdale
Police Investigating Bomb Threat Against SEPTA Regional Rail Line in Lansdale
