Westmoreland, NY – A Herkimer man is facing multiple criminal charges after authorities say he allegedly threw an explosive device toward two people during a dispute in the Town of Westmoreland earlier this month.
According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to Eureka Road on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, for a reported dispute involving Justin Ramos, 38, of Herkimer. Investigators said Ramos had stopped his vehicle to engage in a verbal argument with two people he knew.
Authorities allege that during the confrontation, Ramos exited his vehicle, argued with the individuals, then returned to his vehicle, lit an explosive device and threw it in their direction before leaving the scene. The two individuals moved away to avoid being struck, and no injuries or property damage were reported.
The sheriff’s office said Ramos later traveled to Herkimer, where he became involved in a separate incident with different individuals and was arrested on unrelated charges. Because of the alleged explosive device incident in Westmoreland, the case was assigned to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Unit.
According to investigators, detectives interviewed witnesses, collected evidence, and obtained an arrest warrant for Ramos.
On Monday, July 13, 2026, after Ramos was released from the Herkimer County Jail, he was taken into custody on the Oneida County warrant and transported to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office for processing.
Ramos was charged with menacing in the second degree (two counts), reckless endangerment in the second degree (two counts), and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony. Following processing, he was held pending arraignment in CAP Court before being released on his own recognizance.
The charges are allegations, and Ramos is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
