Suspect charged after leaving suspicious package in Times Square: Police

Desean Maryat, 26, faces several charges, including reckless endangerment.

August 19, 2025, 10:25 AM

A suspect faces multiple charges after allegedly leaving a suspicious package in Times Square on Monday, according to the New York Police Department.

On Monday at approximately 10:32 a.m., police responded to a call of a "suspicious package" in the vicinity of West 43 Street and Seventh Avenue, officials said in a statement to ABC News.

Once on the scene, officials said they located the package "in front of the New York Police Department facility."

Members of the New York City Police Department block off 7th Avenue as they respond to reports of suspicious package in Times Square in New York City, August 18, 2025.
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

Police requested the NYPD Emergency Service Unit and Bomb Squad to respond to the scene, with officials also releasing an advisory urging the public to avoid the area.

An hour after the initial advisory was released, officials said the object was determined to not be a threat and the area was reopened "to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic."

Members of the NYPD store pieces of evidence from a suspicious package in bags in Times Square in New York City, Aug. 18, 2025.
Kylie Cooper/Reuters
New York Police Department officers stand outside one of the NYPD's buildings after clearing the scene of a suspicious package in Times Square in New York City, August 18, 2025.
Kylie Cooper/Reuters

The suspect, 26-year-old Desean Maryat, was taken into custody on Monday at approximately 2:11 p.m., police said. Maryat, who is from the Bronx, was charged with reckless endangerment, placing a false bomb or hazardous substance, making terroristic threats, making a threat of mass harm and disorderly conduct, police said.

Maryat was taken to a hospital for a psych evaluation before being charged, according to New York ABC station WABC.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing.

A police officer walks on the street as police vehicles block a street in a cordoned off area in Times Square in New York City, August 18, 2025.
Jeenah Moon/Reuters

Maryat has been previously charged with criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree menacing and second-degree harassment, according to court records.

It is unclear whether Maryat has an attorney who can speak on his behalf or when his next court appearance is scheduled.

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