ORLANDO, Fla. – A 46-year-old New Smyrna Beach man was arrested on New Year’s Day after he made false reports of a bomb at an Orlando International Airport security checkpoint, police said.
Just before 2 a.m. Thursday at the east checkpoint of the Terminal B exit, a TSA agent reported that Marcos Alfredo Vidal said, “The stage was set, and she’s ready,” followed by a clearer statement referencing a “pipe bomb, vending machine,” an arrest affidavit states.
After officers responded to the scene, Vidal initially denied mentioning a bomb and claimed he was referring to “something for his children” and had drawings in his backpack, police said.
Vidal’s statements during questioning were inconsistent and incoherent, the affidavit states, adding he allegedly admitted to a history of substance abuse and said he takes medication for anxiety. Vidal was evaluated for mental health concerns, but did not meet criteria for involuntary commitment, police said.
Vidal was charged with false report of bombing and disorderly conduct. He was booked into the Orange County Jail on no bond.
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