Mr Cocoyam arrested and bailed over a terrorist prank gone wrong
Follow @eventlabgh Popular Bronx- based Ghanaian comedian, Mr Cocoyam who is known for his pranks on the internet, was charged…
Popular Bronx- based Ghanaian comedian, Mr Cocoyam who is known for his pranks on the internet, was charged with making a terroristic threat after entering the Marriott Pavilion at the Culinary Institute of America during a concert and leaving behind a backpack stuffed with paper, allegedly intending to “cause alarm,” according to town police.
The Hyde Park Police Department said officers responded to the pavilion about 2:40 p.m. Sunday because 25-year-old Mr Cocoyam, real name Kelvin A. Asiedu, reportedly was acting in a manner perceived as “suspicious.”
Asiedu walked to the front of the venue, sat down and remained seated for some time before getting up and leaving behind a backpack, police said.
“He then stood in the aisle staring at the stage,” according to a police press release.
Asiedu was asked to sit down by school security and “members of [the] audience who were retired or off-duty law-enforcement officers,” police said. But he did not respond, they said, and members of the audience became concerned and began to leave the venue.
When interviewed by officers, Asiedu “made statements indicating the actions were intended to cause alarm,” police said.
Culinary Institute of America spokesman Jeff Levine said the concert was a Marist College performance. Levine said Asiedu has no connection to the Culinary Institute.
Asiedu was arrested and charged with the felony of making a terroristic threat, the misdemeanor of criminal nuisance, and the violation of disorderly conduct, police said.
The backpack was searched and found to contain only paper, police said. They said Asiedu was with two other people who were detained and interviewed but not charged.
In addition to the felony terrorist charge, Asiedu was charged with criminal nuisance, a misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a violation. He was sent to Dutchess County Jail on $1,000 bail or $2,000 bond and released early Monday morning on bail.
Asiedu was scheduled to appear in Hyde Park Court on Wednesday. But Court Clerk Jessica Edwards said that court appearance was adjourned because he posted bail and was released.
CIA spokesman Jeff Levine said Asiedu has never been a student at the school.
“Both Marist and the CIA are cooperating with the police in this matter as they investigate,” read a message to the Marist community from Deborah DiCaprio, Marist’s vice president of student affairs, and John Blaisdell, Marist’s director of security. “We greatly appreciate the coordinated efforts of the Hyde Park Police Department and the CIA security office.”
