Police Assured A Fun,

Safe Hometown 4th

Facebook Threat Investigated,

Deemed “Not Credible” By FBI

ONEONTA – With extra patrols on hand and monitoring by the State Police, the Oneonta Police Department helped assure that the Hometown 4th of July was a safe and celebratory time for all.

On Thursday, June 30, Matthias Czako, Georgia, posted on Facebook claiming that Oneonta’s 4th of July event in Neahwa Park would be a target of domestic terrorism.  “We had people calling, messaging us on Facebook asking us if we had seen the post,” said police Lt. Douglas Brenner. “We contacted the FBI and Homeland Security, and they talked with the person who posted it.  He wasn’t making a threat, he thought he was warning us.”

Though the threat was ruled “not credible,” Oneonta Police met with State Troopers to brief them on the situation and take extra precautions prior to the event.  “We put out extra patrols, and although we didn’t anticipate needing to, if we needed to go another step, we had the resources,” said Brenner.

But the festivities, including a Battle of the Bands, an Oneonta Outlaws game, fireworks and more, went off without issue.