Kevin “Kayvon” Edson, the veiled suspect accused of Tuesday night’s Boston Marathon finish line hoax, was held on $100,000 bail Wednesday morning.

Edson faces misdemeanor charges of disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, and disturbing a public assembly. Additional felony charges include, possession or use of a hoax device and making a false bomb threat.

Edson, 25, faces up to 20 years in state prison. He was directed to Bridgewater State Hospital for mental evaluation, MassLive reports.

According to multiple reports, Edson told arresting Boston Police officers he “knew what he was doing,” and that his stunt was in the name of “performance and symbolism.”

At a morning press conference, BPD commissioner Bill Evans called Edson “Troubled.” Evans added that he regretted that the hoax took attention away from Tuesday’s marathon tributes.

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Earlier: The Boston Police Department identified Kevin “Kayvon” Edson as the suspect taken into custody earlier Tuesday night, according to multiple news outlets, after two unattended backpacks were found near the Boston Marathon Finish Line on Boylston St.

Both backpacks were detonated by a police bomb unit, and the area was cleared. According to CBS Boston, the bags contained a rice cooker filled with confetti.


Edson, 25, of Wakefield, has been charged with disorderly conduct, disturbing the piece, and possession of a hoax device, CBS Boston reports.

Edson was first noticed walking down the middle of the street in the rain barefoot near the marathon finish line on Boylston St. An officer observed Edson’s actions and “did what he was trained to do,” a BPD officer said during an NECN broadcast.

NECN footage and police descriptions indicate that Edson was dressed in black and wore black paint under his eyes. Multiple reports suggest Edson was yelling “Boston Strong” while walking in the area.

On Facebook, Edson’s alleged profile displays a banner image featuring Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and an ominous message: “Had a blast at the Marathon!”

According Edson’s profile information, he lives in Boston and blogs for Natural Selection.

In a YouTube video, Edson states that he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The BPD evacuated Boylston St. after two backpacks were spotted unattended around 7:30 p.m.

 

MBTA Green Line service was shut down and Copley Station was closed for a police investigation.

 

 

Image via NECN

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