Putnam Trailway incident in Mahopac prompts brief school lockout 

A Mahopac man was taken to Putnam Hospital Center for evaluation Wednesday morning, Sept. 9, after police said he was behaving erratically, cursing and yelling about an explosive on the Putnam Trailway near Shear Hill Road. 

The incident prompted nearby Fulmar Road Elementary School to conduct a brief lockout as a precaution while Carmel police, Putnam County Sheriff’s deputies and emergency medical personnel responded and secured the area. 

“We had an emotionally disturbed person on the trail that was screaming about an explosive,” Carmel Police Chief Anthony Hoffman said. “There was none.” 

Officers located the man within minutes of receiving the call. Police said no weapons, explosives or other hazardous items were found, and there was no danger to the public. 

Hoffman said the man is a Mahopac resident who is known to police and has a history of drug-related psychosis. Police and EMS transported him to Putnam Hospital Center for a medical and mental health evaluation. 

Carmel police also sought to dispel reports circulating after the incident that the man had simply been released at the scene. 

“That is not accurate — he was taken into custody by officers and brought to a hospital for evaluation,” the department said in a statement. 

Police said there is no ongoing threat to the public, and no further police action is anticipated. The department said it would not release the man’s identity because the incident involved a mental health evaluation rather than a criminal charge.