Suspicious device found at NYPD precinct in Manhattan was capable of exploding: police

EAST HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11) – A suspicious device discovered inside a vehicle outside a Manhattan police precinct on Wednesday was capable of causing harm, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard told PIX11 News Thursday morning.

“It’s being described as a low-incendiary device,” he said. “We’re not classifying as a bomb, but the powder they were using is capable of causing harm. It’s more like powder you would find in fireworks.”

Sheppard said the device was capable of causing harm but not mass casualties.

The investigation began just before noon Wednesday, when a car with two men, who were cousins, pulled up to the 25th Precinct on East 119th Street in East Harlem. The driver got out and accused the passenger, Chontrell Wrenick, of assaulting him with a machete, police said.

The victim told police officers where to find the machete, which they found. Wrenick was then taken into police custody, according to authorities.

The victim then told police officers about a potentially explosive device inside the car, authorities said. The NYPD Bomb Squad responded to the scene and removed the suspicious device around 3 p.m., per police.

Wrenick, 50, was charged with criminal possession of a possible explosive device, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon, and possession of a bomb.

He is also facing charges for allegedly assaulting his cousin, according to authorities. He was charged with assault with a weapon causing physical injury and criminal possession of a weapon.

Lauren Cook is a digital journalist who has covered local news in the New York City area for over a decade. She has been with PIX11 since 2020. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter .

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