A Hunterdon Central Regional High School student has been charged in connection with a bomb threat that closed the school, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office announced on Oct. 21, 2016.
RARITAN TWP. - A Hunterdon Central Regional High School student has been charged in connection with a bomb threat that closed the school on Tuesday, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday.
The student, whose name was not released because police do not identify minors, was arrested and charged with third-degree false public alarm and terroristic threats, as well as fourth-degree criminal mischief, according to the prosecutor's office.
"Penalties for these offenses, besides possible detention, community service and probation, could also include financial restitution for the cost of the police and emergency response to the threats," said Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III. "Parents are financially responsible for the all these costs and the court could order restitution."
According to the district, the administration was notified at approximately 7:45 a.m. that a bomb threat had been written on a bathroom wall on the 11/12 campus. Working with police, at approximately 8 a.m. students and staff in the 11/12 building were evacuated to the 9/10 campus. The school was closed at 10 a.m. and students were sent home.
Members of the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office, the Raritan Township Police Department, and the New Jersey State Police responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation.
Raritan Township Police confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the 11/12 building was checked by New Jersey State Police bomb-sniffing dogs and nothing was found.
"The Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office and the Raritan Township Police Department do not take any bomb threat or any other kind of threat at a school lightly," Kearns said. "These incidents disrupt the educational process and are dangerous for the rest of the community.
"They will be aggressively investigated and those responsible will be prosecuted."
The arrest was announced jointly by Kearns, Chief of Detectives John J. Kuczynski and Raritan Township Police Chief Glenn Tabasko.