WASHINGTON — Metro Transit Police arrested a D.C. man on charges of making terrorist threats against Metro stations, buses and trains in the area over a six-month period.
Police arrested Jerez Nehemiah Stone-Coleman Wednesday at his residence in the 1600 block of Fort Davis Place in Southeast.
Stone-Coleman — who also goes by “Kidd Cole” — is alleged to have “knowingly [conveyed] false information concerning an attempt or alleged attempt to engage in terrorist attacks or other violence against mass transportation systems,” according to the charging documents.
Investigators say Stone-Coleman made false threats aimed at Metro stations, trains and buses approximately 11 times — each of which resulted in an emergency response. Some of the threats caused disruptions in transit service.
Police say that between Dec. 12, 2014, and May 12, 2015, Stone-Coleman allegedly called the 911 emergency system 11 times reporting bomb threats and/or hostage situations directed against Metro stations, trains and buses.
In one of the instances on Jan. 20, 2015, the caller claimed that people from France told him that they planned to ambush President Barack Obama’s motorcade and assassinate him that night. Also, the caller said that the same people had placed bombs around the Potomac Avenue Metro station and planned to kill a police officer.
The call caused officials to close the Potomac Avenue Metro station and conduct sweeps for bombs or other destructive devices.
On Jan. 22, 2015, the caller said he and his friends planned to take hostages on a Metrobus and kill them if they were not paid a $15 million ransom.
Also, on April 14, 2015, the caller told a 911 dispatcher that a bomb was placed at the McPherson Square Metro station and another bomb at the White House.
Metro Transit Police used cellphone records, surveillance video from stations and buses and telephone audio to identify Stone-Coleman. Police issued a warrant for his arrest Tuesday.
On Thursday, a judge ordered Stone-Coleman to be held without bond and told him he faces up to 20 years in jail and/or a $250,000 fine. His preliminary hearing is set for June 2.
In May 2014, Stone-Coleman appeared as “Kidd Cole” in an episode of the MTV reality TV show, “Catfish.” The show documents the journey of couples who have developed relationships online, but have never met. Many times the participants pretend to be someone they are not through false online information.
The full “Catfish” episode that Stoneman-Cole appears in can be watched for free on MTV.com.
In the clip below, one of the hosts is seen throwing Stoneman-Cole’s phone into the Potomac.
