PRINCETON, NJ — The Princeton Police Department received a report of a suspicious sound coming from a garbage can in the area of Palmer Square on March 30, 2026, at approximately 12:04 a.m.
Patrol units responded to the area and met with Palmer Square management, who directed officers to the garbage can in question, located on Hulfish Street.
Upon conducting an initial assessment, officers observed what appeared to be frayed wiring protruding from an item inside the garbage can and detected a continuous high-pitched audible noise.
Due to the unknown nature of the device and out of an abundance of caution, officers secured the area and requested assistance from the New Jersey State Police Bomb Squad.
Members of the New Jersey State Police Bomb Squad responded to the scene and conducted a thorough evaluation.
As a precautionary measure, nearby residences were notified and evacuated, and hotel guests at the Nassau Inn who were staying in nearby rooms were relocated to another area of the building while the investigation was conducted.
After further examination, the device was ultimately identified as a battery-operated insulin pump that had been discarded in the garbage can.
The device was determined to be non-hazardous, and the area was deemed safe.
The Palmer Square area was closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for approximately two and a half hours.
The area was reopened once the device was determined to be safe and the investigation was completed.
Residents and hotel guests were then permitted to return to their homes and rooms.
