Police: Metro Detroit man, 70, arrested at LaGuardia Airport after threatening worker

No explosives found

NEW YORK – A 70-year-old passenger was arrested Saturday at LaGuardia Airport after he threatened a worker at the Spirit Airlines ticket counter, prompting a partial evacuation of the terminal and the summoning of explosives experts, authorities said.

There were delays and confusion Saturday morning at the New York City airport, and an entire terminal was shut down for hours.

Port Authority police arrested the 70-year-old passenger after claiming he had explosives in his bag when told he must pay the luggage fee.

The police action shut down the ticketing area of the airport's main terminal temporarily while the New York Police Department's bomb squad responded to the scene and checked a bag. No explosives were found.

The man was identified as In John Park of Farmington, Michigan. It was not clear who would represent him at an initial court appearance in state court in Queens.

The manager of the apartment complex where Park lives would not tell Local 4 News if there have been any complaints or problems with the tenant, but the news didn't sit well with those who live in the building.

Joe Pentangelo, a Port Authority spokesman, said the incident happened around 7:15 a.m. in Terminal B, and the airport was functioning normally about two hours later.

Park faces charges of making a terroristic threat.

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