Kevin Edson, the 25-year-old man who was arrested by Boston police after placing a backpack at the finish line of the upcoming Boston Marathon, was arraigned in court today. Based on the Boston Globe's report on the arraignment, it looks like Edson is a mentally ill man who thought his odd display was some kind of performance.
In the police report detailing Edson's arrest, an explanation for his actions is offered to the cops:
"I knew what I was doing, it was being conceived in my head. It's symbolism,'' Edson allegedly told police after receiving his Miranda rights. "The performance got the best of me.''
Before the arraignment, Edson was interviewed by a court mental health expert who determined that Edson is "an intelligent man with a history of hospitalizations for mental illness." From the Globe:
[The mental health expert] told the judge that he spoke with the 25-year-old Edson and with Edson's parents and sister and learned that Edson has not taken his medication for the past three to four months, leading him to question whether Edson can make rational decisions.
Edson's bail was set at $100,000, and he was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for a mental competency evaluation.